FUR FACTS 293 



The party on Wednesday night was to be held at the club house 

 of one of the leading New Orleans land dealers, which was located 

 quite a distance from the city on the shore of Lake Borgne. The 

 party was an extremely hilarious affair; liquor flowed freely and to- 

 wards the time for breaking up I noticed that Henderley was not a 

 little intoxicated. 



We did not return to New Orleans that night but took a room at 

 the club house. My friend went to sleep, as I thought, very quietly 

 (it being near one when the party broke up), and appeared to be in 

 perfect possession of his senses. It might have been half an hour 

 from the time of our getting in bed, and I was just sinking into a 

 doze, when he suddenly started up and swore with a terrible oath 

 that he was going to row down to the gulf and take a look at Jack- 

 son's land. I never was so astonished in all my life, thinking that 

 the wines and liquors he had drunk had set him entirely beside him- 

 self. He proceeded to talk very coolly, however, and assured me that 

 there was every reason in the world why he should examine this land 

 before he bought it. Besides, as he said, he was tired of lying in 

 bed on such a fine night and felt that a little ride in the boat would 

 do him good. 



Whether he was drunk or sober, I reahzed that it would not do to 

 let him go alone, so without any objection at all, I put on my clothes 

 quickly and prepared to go with him. It was truly a beautiful 

 moonlight night, rather cool, with a strong wind from the north-west 

 and as we neared the wharf I began to feel a thrill of the greatest 

 excitement and pleasure and was quite as much in favor of a boat ride 

 as my friend. 



Upon reaching the wharf we found a sail boat which Henderley 

 designated as the one to be used. It had a half deck or cuddy, and 

 was rigged sloop-fashion — I forgot her tonnage, but she was large 

 enough to hold ten persons without much crowding. We hoisted jib 

 and mainsail, and started boldly out toward the gulf. 



The wind, as I said before, was blowing strongly from the north- 

 west. Henderley had taken the helm, and I stationed myself by the 

 mast, on the deck of the cuddy. We flew along at a terrific speed- 

 neither of us having spoken a word since leaving the wharf. I now 

 asked my companion in what direction he proposed to steer, and how 

 long it would take us to make the trip. He whistled for a moment, 

 and then said, gruffly, "I am going to sea — ^you may go back to the 

 hotel if you prefer." Turning my eyes upon him, I saw at once that, 

 in spite of his assumed careless manner, he was greatly agitated. I 



