158 ISLES OF SUMMER. 
sengers happy by a perfect shower of encomiums upon the noble 
and unexampled manner in which they ‘‘ laughed at their calam- 
ity,” declaring that never in his life had he before seen ladies 
and gentlemen behave so well. : 
An old U. 8. naval commander, (Capt. Fox), addressing our 
favorite yachtman one day, said: 
“When you go out with sailing parties and have ladies on 
board, why don’t you take along your small boat, for, ballasted 
with 8,000 lbs. of iron, if the ‘Triton’ should upset she wonld 
go right straight to the bottom likeashot. Inthe United States 
navy they will not allow a boat to be ballasted with anything 
but water, so that itcannot sink. Now, with four tons of ballast 
on board, what would you do should your boat with its load of 
passengers upset?” 
With emphatic and graceful gestures and a flashing eye, Samp- 
son answered: 
«But de ‘ Triton’ karn’t upset—’tis impossible. Why I sails 
all round dese yere waters in all kinds ’er weather for mor’n ten 
years, and I knows what she ken do, and I tells yer der ‘ Triton’ 
karn’t upset—kause I wont let ’er.” 
“‘Well, Sampson, you think she’ll not upset, and a great many 
men as experienced and capable of managing boats as you are, 
and equally confident, have been drowned at last. Now why 
don’t you take your small boat along so that if an accident hap- 
pens, and you have ladies on board, they may be saved?” 
“J say,” replied Sampson, speaking with an energy and earn- 
estness with which a native deference, respect and politeness were 
singularly and pleasantly combined, ‘‘ I know’d what der Triton 
ken do; for many a time, when I ha’nt got no passengers, I goes 
all alone by myself and tries her in every place ’bout yese here 
waters, and I studies her, and tries her, and larns what she ken 
do, and I tells yer—not to say as how I do’snt ’spect your opinion 
