NOTES. 299 



ness, had come in collision with his; he shudders at the 

 thought, and perhaps, at that moment, the idea will suggest 

 itself that there is an overruling Providence who watches 

 over and protects the poor mariner. 



Well do I recollect my own feelings on several occasions of 

 this nature, one of which happened on the coast of California. 

 We were sailing in company with another whale ship, when 

 a gale of wind came on which was favorable for the course 

 we were steering toward Cape St. Lucas : both ships were 

 kept before the wind during the day, but after sunset our 

 captain thought it advisable to heave to, after which, from 

 the position of our ship, it appeared probable that the other 

 vessel, which was still kept on her course, would pass quite 

 close to us, and a good look-out was therefore ordered to be 

 kept to windward. In a short time it was very dark, the sea 

 running " mountains high," and the gale blowing very hard, 

 so that it was impossible to see any distance to windward. 



When the other ship was last visible, she appeared to be 

 heading right for us; and well do I remember with what 

 anxiety I waited until I thought sufficient time had elapsed 

 for her to pass. I know not why, but the thought seemed at 

 that time to press very heavily on me, what the consequence 

 would be should the other ship run into ours ; very probably 

 we should have all gone to the bottom ; and my feelings were 

 the more acute by the circumstance that the ship in question 

 belonged to the same owners as ours, and had on board sev- 

 eral young men who had often been my companions in pleas- 

 ant parties. 



At another time, while employed in trying out, on the coast 

 of Kamtschatka, one very dark night the watch was busily 

 employed on deck; we were boiling our last whale, and car- 

 rying' more sail than is usual while boiling, for the purpose of 

 making a port, when another vessel approached to leeward 

 unseen by us ; at this time, as it was blowing fresh, and the 

 ship had a considerable heel, the officer of the deck ordered 

 the helm to be put up to keep the ship before the wind, and 



