110 



THE LAST CRUISE OF THE MIRAXDA. 



a variety of reels they have made their own, and these have 

 assumed a certain national character. 



It was cold and misty the next morning, and a fine drizzle 

 was falling. Canvas had been spread over the salt in the 



-, after-hold of the schooner, 

 and over this we put our 

 mattresses side by side. 

 Each man had just his 

 mattress room, that was 

 all , and every bit of 

 space was taken up. On 

 account of the limited 

 space, we could bring only 

 a few necessaries on the 

 schooner. The little vessel 

 was but ninety-nine feet 

 long, and of one hundred 

 and seven tons burden. 



To insure against sepa- 

 ration in case of fog or in the darkness, it was decided that 

 the steamer should tow the schooner, so the two were con- 

 nected with a cable line, and a system of signals was 

 arranged between the two captains, in order that they could 

 communicate in case of need or accident. It was hoped that 

 the Miranda could make the run to St. Johns with safety, 

 or at any rate that she could be run in somewhere on the 

 Labrador coast. At about ten o'clock we got under way. 

 The American flag was run up on our mainmast, and was 

 greeted with loud cheers. The Miranda being an English 

 ship, and sailing under a British charter, of course, flew 

 English colors, so now for the first time we were sailing under 

 the Stars and Stripes. "We all removed our hats, though a 

 drizzling rain was falling, and sang in a swelling chorus the 

 "Star-Spangled Banner," and "My Country, 'tis of Thee." 



GOVERNORS' HOUSE. 



