126 THE LAST CRUISE OF THE MIRANDA. 



supremacy, yet, being hardened sinners, we were enabled to 

 snatch some sleep despite the gale and the closeness of our 

 quarters. A small party near me, huddled together in sitting 

 postures, kept me awake for a while by an earnest discussion 

 of the effect of salt upon fire, as if it had not been sufficiently 

 demonstrated. One man in particular advanced his argu- 

 ments in an almost continuous stream. His extraordinary 

 volubility had a certain fascination about it, and I could not 

 choose but hear. At length, in a dreamy state, I gave myself 

 up to the purely sensuous enjoyment of watching his jaws 

 wag, and so fell asleep. 



The next day the storm abated, and on this day and the 

 next we passed a number of small fishing schooners, many of 

 them within hailing distance. The first question invariably 

 was: "Who have you got aboard ?" and the next, "How 

 many fish have you ? " We were nearing Sydney, and the 

 news of the wreck of the Miranda had evidently reached 

 there. We were cheered here and there by a passing schooner 

 on our identity becoming known, and on the morning of 

 September 5 we entered, at last, with all our colors flying, the 

 harbor of Sydney, after a remarkable voyage of fifteen days. 



The story of our journey from Sukkertoppen to Sydney is 

 so well told in Captain Dixon's log, which immediately follows 

 this narrative, that I have purposely left out many particulars, 

 in order to avoid vain repetitions. The familiar fog was still 

 with us when we again dropped anchor in the harbor of Syd- 

 ney, and a drizzling rain was falling ; but this could not dampen 

 our enthusiasm. It was a wild-looking party that rushed on 

 North Sydney's shore that day, yet a most hilarious and joy- 

 ous one. A bee-line was made for the post-office and cable 

 station, and many were the messages sent to anxious ones at 

 home telling of our safe arrival. A dinner for all hands had 

 been arranged for at the Sydney Hotel, in Sydney proper, in 

 the evening, and a committee was despatched to confer with 



