106 LIBERTY AND A LIVING. 



some people I know, a boat, and especially a 

 sail-boat, is a never-failing source of pleasure. 

 The fact that I have seen some pretty rough 

 days in the Nelly, and that there have been 

 times when I would not have wagered much 

 upon my chances of getting her into port, seem 

 rather to endear her to us ; a boat that has 

 stood a hundred gales, and has carried us 

 thousands of miles, deserves something of 

 gratitude in return. I cherish on the desk 

 at which I now write a brass cleat from a little 

 sail-boat I once owned ; it serves as a paper- 

 weight and as a reminder of scores of pleasure 

 days. On one side of it is engraved the name 

 of the boat, and on the other the date "April- 

 December, 1880." When the time came for 

 selling her, I retained this memento of many 

 an exciting sail, and, as my wife would add, of 

 many a hairbreadth escape. 



We hoisted the Nelly s sail to dry in the sun, 

 and started back to breakfast. There were but 

 few of the natives about the shore, but among 

 those few I found my friend the Cap'n, who 

 had been out to his nets, and had brought back 

 a plentiful supply of " bunkers," which we could 

 have as bait. These " bunkers " are the " bony. 



