148 Crossing the Line 



1844, continued 



necks of sleepers. These amusements, with soirées on deck, songs, stories, 

 &c., served to get over the time pretty well. 



( Frederick Walpole. Four years in the Pacific in Her Majesty's Ship "Col- 

 lingwood," from 1844 to 1848. London, 1849. v. 1, p. 15-17.) 



For several days we had been laying in a continued succession of calms, 

 broken only at short intervals by hght and almost imperceptible airs, that 

 carried the ship stealthily along towards the equator. The sails dropped 

 listlessly. . . . The hehn had no control. . . . The rain, at intervals, came 

 pouring down in torrents . . . and then the sun would shoot out his intense 

 rays, bringing weariness to the body and a f aintness to the spirit. . . . Then 

 came the gentle breeze. . . . All was animation . . . the log was hove, and 

 six knots reported. "Hold on, good wind," said the Officer of the watch, 

 "and before dayhght we shall have crossed the Hne." 



It was a glorious night, and onward went the seventy-four, as steady and 

 as majestic as the monarch of the waves. Early dawn was seen streaking 

 the eastern horizon with its lovely Hght — the seamen were preparing to 

 wash the decks — yet scarcely a sound disturbed the quiet of the hour. 

 Suddenly a distant rumbhng noise was heard, and a loud splashing in the 

 water, like a shoal of grampuses at play. Soon afterwards, an indistinct 

 utterance of voices seemed to be hailing the ship, and in a few minutes a 

 single, or it might be a double pair of lungs, vociferated, "Ho, the ship 

 ahoy." 



"HaUoo," responded the Lieutenant of the watch, through his brass 

 trumpet, and every one stood still. 



"What ship is that?" demanded the voice. "From whence came you, and 

 where are you bound to?" 



"This is his Majesty's ship B , from England, boimd to Rio Janeiro," 



answered the Lieutenant. "Who are you, and where do you come from?" 



"Jist back your main-yard and stop her way a bit, if you please," returned 

 the voice, "for my sea-horses are getting rusty from good feed, and won't 

 mind their helm. Stop her way, and you shall soon see who and what I am." 



The main-yard was squared — the progress of the ship was deadened — 

 and again, amidst much splashing and confusion under the bows, the same 

 voice shouted, "Gee — wohoy — woay — wo — avast there, and be blowed 

 to you — can't you be stül? Heave us the end of a rope, some of you grin- 

 ning lubbers upon deck — what are you all staring at? — why, did you never 

 any on you see a Triton afore?" The rope was thrown. "Well-behaved, my 

 lads; now jump over here, one or two of you, and lend us a hand aboard." 

 This request was also comphed with, and presently a most uncouth-looking 

 figure appeared, with half of his naked body above the bulwark, whilst the 

 whole watch, and many who came stealthily from their hammocks, gathered 

 on the forecasüe to see what was going on. A huge mass of sea-weed and 



