THE LAST CRUISE OF THE MIRANDA. 



53 



planning to go directly across the straits, and thus avoid the 

 Labrador coast and its numerous icebergs. We started at 

 about nine o'clock in the evening, but anchored after steam- 

 ing out a little way, and did not get well under way until five 

 o'clock on the following morning. The day was foggy at first, 

 but the fog lifted, and we bowled merrily along, making good 



THE MIRANDA IN DOCK. 



time, and with everybody in high spirits. Shortly after break- 

 fast we passed Baccalieu Island, which is most densely popu- 

 lated by seagulls. A few shots fired from the ship echoed 

 and reverberated about the island, and caused a partial 

 eclipse of the sun, on account of the dense mass of gulls that 

 circled over us. Not until I saw the wonderful loomeries of 



