THE LABRADOR JOURNAL 435 



August 21. To-day the storm ceased, but the wind 

 is still so adverse that we could make no port of New- 

 foundland; towards this island we steered, for none of 

 us wished to return to Labrador. We tried to enter 

 the Strait of Canseau, but the wind failed us ; while the 

 vessel lay becalmed we decided to try to reach Pictou 

 in Nova Scotia and travel by land. We are now beating 

 about towards that port and hope to reach it early to- 

 morrow morning. The great desire we all have to see Pic- 

 tou, Halifax, and the country between them and Eastport, 

 is our inducement. 



August 22, After in vain attempting to reach Pictou, 

 we concluded, after dinner, that myself and party should be 

 put ashore anywhere, and the " Ripley " should sail back 

 towards the Straits of Canseau, the wind and tide being 

 favorable. We drank a glass of wine to our wives and 

 our friends, and our excellent little captain took us to 

 the shore, while the vessel stood still, with all sails up, 

 awaiting his return. We happened to land on an island 

 called Ruy's Island, where, fortunately for us, we found some 

 men making hay. Two of these we engaged to carry our 

 trunks and two of the party to this place, Pictou, for two 

 dollars — truly cheap. Our effects, or rather those we 

 needed, were soon put up, we all shook hands most heartily 

 with the captain — to whom we now feel really attached — 

 said farewell to the crew, and parted, giving three hearty 

 cheers. We were now, thanks to God, positively on the 

 mainland of our native country, and after four days' con- 

 finement in our berths, and sick of sea-sickness, the sea 

 and all its appurtenances, we felt so refreshed that the 

 thought of walking nine miles seemed like nothing more 

 than dancing a quadrille. The air felt deliciously warm, 

 the country, compared with those we have so lately left, 

 appeared perfectly beautiful, and the smell of the new- 

 mown grass was the sweetest that ever existed. Even the 

 music of the crickets was delightful to mine ears, for no 



