22 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



kindled in the steerage, they would not have ventured 

 out of the warm but foul air of their sleeping-places. 

 It is surprising that we had not more sickness on board, 

 for pure air is one of the main sources of health, and 

 this was much wanted between decks. 



At night the wind changed in our favor, and it began 

 to rain. I had placed my mattress near the hatchway, 

 and was wet through before I awoke. 



The 4th of July approached, — the liberation-day of 

 the Americans. The captain said he should make it 

 a holiday, and give us some punch, and we decided on 

 making preparations for it ; a young man named 

 Zellner, who had already been in America, sketched 

 the plan. First a transparency was painted, with the 

 American arms, the stripes and stars, and rising eagle, 

 with, as a motto, the names of the four heroes of the 

 revolution, "Washington, La Fayette, Franklin, Kosci- 

 usko. It hajjpened that one of the passengers had 

 some rockets and other fireworks, which he produced 

 for the occasion. At twelve at night, between the 3rd 

 and 4th July, the transparency Avas illuminated, and 

 a song composed for the nonce, sung to the tune of 

 " God save the King." The fireworks were let off, 

 and the rockets fired from our fowling-pieces. The 

 lights were reflected from the calm water. The captain 

 now invited our party, and some other of the steerage 

 passengers into the cabin, where punch was handed 

 round, while the mate served it out on deck to the 

 crew and the rest of the passengers, pressing it par- 

 ticularly on the ladies. The consequences soon became 

 manifest. We had sat for about half an hour in the 

 cabin, laughing and drinking ; but I took the precaution 



