166 ISLES OF SUMMER. 
seems ever freighted with sensuous pleasures, and never stimulates 
to heroic deeds, or to labors and duties which in colder latitudes 
characterize all forms of life outside of the vegetable kingdom. 
We were therefore predisposed to respond favorably to the propo- 
sition of Sampson, when, upon the morning of the 20th of March, 
1879, the day the equinoctial storm arrives at the north, if it is 
on time, he proposed that; as the wind was more lively than 
usual, a few gentlemen should put the 'I'riton to the test as an 
ocean boat by going outside the bar. IIc is always a ready and 
fluent speaker, but on this occasion he seemed to have more and 
better wind than usual to fill the capacious sails of his cloquence. 
Like his great namesake, of biblical fame and memory, he accom- 
plishes great results with a ‘‘ jaw-bone.” 
“‘T don’t want no ladies dis time,” said he, ‘“ there’s a leetle 
too much wind to take der ladies along. I jess want to shake all 
der reefs out of der Triton’s sails and let her go. I’d like for 
once to show der gemmen what der Triton ken do.” 
Half an hour afterwards two gentlemen and the author were 
seated in Sampson’s boat, and flying down the harbor of Nassau 
under full sail. Amos, from Harbour Island, a colored man of. 
much nautical experience in Bahama waters, and of more than 
average ability, was greatly complimented by the captain, because, 
without waiting to be told, he went quietly to work and prepared 
the yacht before crossing the bar for the washings he evidently 
anticipated she was destined to get. He lashed to the boat the 
anchor and the oars, put carpets and cushions away in the little 
forecastle, made fast every coil of rope, got ready for immediate 
use the large sponges which are here employed to keep boats dry, 
and brought out for the use of the passengers oil-cloth suits, more 
useful than ornamental, and sufficiently capacious to keep the 
salt water on the outside of a man in case the ill-mannered waves, 
presuming too much on our very limited acquaintance, should 
