Makoh tO, 1882.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



166 



CARE vs. COOT. 



PART ir. 



SOME i ime ago I told the story of our search for sounder 

 Bleep find better digestion while we tamed at Good 

 Ground, passing Hie time "in battery" or out of it, but 

 fen-joying each moment to the full. 



1 hinted that later I might furnish your waste-hasket with 

 rejected manuscript, which should tell something of our sub- 

 sequent cruise around Gardiner's Bay and the Sound. 



tt is doubtless a fact that many might go through the same 

 Experience and find but little recreation and profit, much less 

 discover any satisfaction in rehearsing the story or listening 

 to it from another. 



But there is a class for whom the open page of nature has 

 an endless charm, who uever tire of the wonderful revela- 

 tions of tlie great "outdoors," who find "sermons in stones, 

 books in the running brooks, and good in everything." 



You, my friend, 1 know are of this good fellowship; and 

 knowing also, as you do, what an opportunity such as this 

 really means to many of us, who through the major part of 

 daily life are tied down to close application and the sedentary 

 habit of office work, it may be that you may get a whiff of 

 the salt breezes through these lines — a refreshing dash of salt 

 brine — even if afterward you toss these pages into the afore- 

 said basket. 



It was in October of last year — October, not midsummer. 

 A time of clearer atmosphere, fresher breezes, more invigor- 

 ating influences than in "the heated term." A time when 

 the blood courses through the veins with vigorous flow, and 

 when each breath drawn, charged with life-giving ozone, is 

 better i ban a draught of sparkling champagne. 



We left the cars at Sag Harbor one Saturday noon, and 

 after gathering gun eases and traps in one conglomerated 

 pile, and placing in charge thereof a possible future Presi- 

 dent of this great Republic, we sallied out to 

 look up the Nahma. 



Great Boreas! how it blew I 



The wind had shifted during the preceding 

 night, and after getting itself settled into exactly 

 west-northwest, and by dint of sotne extra brace 

 seemed to have entered into the spirit of self- 

 competition and was doing things up lively, each 

 hour showing more "laps" than its predecessor. 



Jamming our hats down on to our heads, and 

 sticking forward one shoulder well into the wind, 

 we laid our course to the dock. The blue water, 

 rolling along in heavy seas, was flecked with foam, 

 while the crest of each wave was caught up by the 

 laughing gale and whipped into whar Oscar Wilde 

 litis so poetically called "unravelled lace," and 

 scattered far and wide. 



Riding at anchor were eraft of every 7 'longshore 

 description, most of w r hich had sought harbor 

 during the night. Some were snugly moored, 

 while other shad dropped anchor where they were J 



caught, and where a second anchor had been 

 dropped to hold fast against the dreaded drag. 

 The driving mist from the water shut out the low 

 line of the other shore across the bay ; while above 

 we observed ducks, singles and in bunches, scud- 

 ding on the wind to the shelter of inland coves. 



As we reached the foot of the pier, on which no 

 living thing was visible, we saw the old, familiar 

 rig of the Hahma sweeping with graceful motion 

 as She bowed her acknowledgment to the boister- 

 ous rollicking of the passing winds. 



Snugly moored under the grateful lee of the 

 pier, she herself sat like a duck on the water, 

 about, half-way down the long wharf. We knew 

 " Qapt. Hill" would be on hand, as ordered, but 

 we had wondered whether this blow, which 

 showed no favor, would have allowed him to ^ 



make comfortable moorings. /y 



Pushing down the pier, we were soon along- < 



side, and a hearty "Nahma, ahoy I" brought, first, 

 the smothered reply, "Aye, aye, sir!" from some- 

 where in her depths, which was soon followed by 

 the ruddy face and grizzled locks of our old 

 friend "Oapt. Bill" himself— white shirt, a "pair 

 o' gallusses," and regulation blue trousers and 

 slippers followed, when we jumped aboard, locked 

 hands and took command. 



It seemed as though the old yacht herself ac- 

 knowledged old acquaintance with a gentler dip 

 than usual, and yielded her allegiance with willing spirit. 



It was out of the question making any start until the wind 

 went down, and so we took things easily, getting traps 

 aboard and well stored, looking over the ship's stores, adding 

 a few things in way of "fresh provisions, " purchasing oil- 

 skin overalls up town — and getting our "bearings" generally. 



All this afternoon wo were unconsciously perhaps, taking 

 on sea. airs, and drifting into nautical slang. A certain 

 spreading of the legs was giving our walk the roll of an ' 'old 

 salt," and we gave the stem of our briar-root an extra shove 

 into the corner of our mouth, while "northeast" became 

 "no'theeast," and "starboard" or "larboard" covered every- 

 thing that did not lie too many points "ahead" or "astern.'" 



The wind still blew with unabating force and we took a 

 stroll up into the town before dark and before supper, and 

 our first night again aboard the yacht. 



This good and staunch old boat deserves a word of special 

 mention. Built some years ago for safety, speed and com- 

 fort, she is in these respects, of perfect model. With good 

 "waist," pleasant lines, and, to our eyes, a comfortable 

 "sheer," with a snug and comfortable cockpit, ample deck 

 and everything aloft: sound and well bent, her appearance 

 outside is winsome' and satisfactory. 



Down through the eompanionway into her cabin, one gets 

 a view of plenty of room and jolly, jolly quarters. Twenty 7 

 feet in clear length, full breadth of boat and height enough 

 to clear the tallest commodore's chapeau, with good, clean 

 berths and all the appointments and fittings essential to every 

 comfort during a cruise, mean a jolly good time for two 

 such light-hearted land-lubbers as now were in possession. 



But clever old boat as this Nahma is, she owes half of her 

 charm to old "Capt. Bill," who knows her through and 

 through, from stem to stern, from peak to keel, and every 

 changing mood that she may ever indulge in. Capt. Bill, who 

 treats her with loving care, who at any and all hours is alert 

 to anticipate her lightest whim; Capt. Bill, whose idea of 

 heaven would be incomplete did it not include some shadowy 

 |TahtttB andetherial eeJ chowder; Capt. Bill, whose word is 

 final and square everytirne; old frizzled-topped, gray-haired, 

 honest Capt. Bill, all hail! 



Sixty years have dashed and washed their briny waves 

 about him; have blown that hah about his weather-beaten 



face only to make the children love him more, and to crys- 

 talize bis truthfulness iuto changeless shape. 



We had learned never to doubt him or his barometer. 

 Each working backward by some mysterious and inexpli- 

 cable methods of their own, they came out right, blackguard 

 them as you might, argue as you might, reason and differ as 

 you pleased. 



If to us the barometer was falling and warning us in no 

 uncertain tone to make things snug and look for different 

 weather, Captain Bill's cheery and confident tone came to the 

 rescue. "That 'ere barometer was out of the ship Italy, and 

 was made in London, England. She knows what she's 

 about; it's going to be fair, boys." 



Useless to call his attention to the fact that painted right 

 across the face of the thing, stared the letters, "New London 

 Spa, New York"— useless to insist that when barometers 

 go down, "if, means business" the. world over — the same 

 confident reply came, solemnly forth, after rolling his quid 

 from one cheek to the other: " "Can't help it. boys, that 'ere 

 barometer was made in England— in London town— took 

 out of the ship Italy, and kuows her business. I tell you 

 when she goes down it's going to be fine, and that's just the 

 size of it." 



And the wonder of it all was that it always did as he said, 

 give it lime enough. But he is a jolly old salt, and he 

 knows his business just the same, and we love to think over 

 all the pleasant days we have sailed together, in storm and 

 cabn, and to look forward to the days to come, which we 

 trust may be filled for us with like pleasure and delight, 



Lamps lighted, a good square supper eaten, (no salt junk 

 and hard tack) led the way to books, talk, "seven -up," and 

 finally to turning in and sound sleep till about "five bells" in 

 the morning. 



Sunday morning! Bright, glorious and clear. The wind 

 still blew hard, but not so like a gale as the day before. 



T. C. BANKS. 



It was decided to make sail comfortably during the day 

 (the cussed old barometer having begun to fall), and lie that 

 night under the shelter of "Gibson's Neck." 



Our old friend O. H. Fordliam, having heard of us over 

 night, came down in the morning to board us, and learning 

 that he was proposing to take a little stroll over to Green- 

 port (his legs will carry him anywhere), we insisted on his 

 starting with us, agreeing to land him over on the Island or 

 at Montauk, according as he felt the need of exercise. 



Final preparations all completed, and everything being in 

 readiness, we only waited for the appearance of Fordham. 



As he jumped aboard, the mainsail crippled to a double 

 reef and flapping noisily in the wind with jib "unseized" and 

 ready to run up, they cast off our hawser, and instantly, like 

 a bird released, we "left the pier with a swoop to leeward, 

 caught her with the tiller, and we were off. 



Not "a life on the ocean wave" exactly 7 , but a close ap- 

 proach to it. Much of the poetry and but little of the prose. 

 To go where we pleased, as we pleased, we almost wished 

 we were pintles — good pirates of course. 



We had discovered a brass cannon aboard, and it was 

 somewhat in our minds to rig it up and challenge every pass- 

 ing craft; to compel obedience or blow them out of water. 



Our first run was across the bay, and before coming to 

 anchor we cruised hither and thither, as our sweet will bade 

 us, fairly 7 revelling in the freedom which a free wind gave us, 

 dancing over wave top or cutting through some briny billow, 

 whose dashing spray Hashed bright in the morning sunlight, 

 and bathed us with 'foaming, sparkling shower. 



The gulls, with their heavy but powerful wing-beat, kept 

 us company, hanging over our wake, or dipping ever and 

 anon to seize some floating "tid-bit" thrown out by us, or 

 swooping in wide circles to pick up drift from other sources. 



White" clouds rolled up against the dark blue background 

 of a clear sky 7 , lighted everywhere by the all glorious sun. 

 hung like a canopy over us. Captain Bill at the helm, with 

 a ready and willing crew, trustworthy and obedient yacht, 

 whose white sails like a gull of larger growth sped hither 

 and thither, completed the picture. Sometimes "before the 

 wind" ploughing along with easy roll, and again with every- 

 thing snug-hauled "on the wind," we bowled along light- 

 hearted and grateful for the good things of the hour. 



"Ready about," and "hard-a-lee," gave us new and chang- 

 ing views, and we changed our songs as often. 



And so we passed this Sunday at sea, not unmindful of the 

 day, and perhaps with as truthful worship as that of soma 

 weary worshipper in some temple made of hands, whose 

 drowsy nod or wandering thought were, only arrested by the 

 benediction. 



Toward dusk we drew in under "Gibson's Beach" and 

 found good anchorage, made things taut and fast for the 

 night, while we had the small boat manned and pulled 

 ashore to look the blinds over for a morning with the ducks 

 at daybreak. 



While walking over the neck we sent our boat down the 

 shore to a runway, where we had noticed some wicked sin- 

 ners of fishermen overhauling their nets, that we might have 

 somewhat of fish fry for supper. As darkness came on we 

 were back at the yacht, lights were set in the rigging and in 

 the cabins, and supper found us at our common board again. 

 As we paced the deck in the evening with a fragrant 

 Havana as a sort of grateful "burnt offering," the glory 

 of the heavens stood revealed with new wonder. The im- 

 mensity of space, the overpowering vastness of university, 

 awed us into silence, broken only by the swash of the waves 

 breaking on the yonder beach, and we could but ask, "What 

 is man, that Thou art mindful of him?" 



"All hands, ahoy I Tumble up I" woke us in the morning 

 with a cherry ring, and up we tumbled "fresh as roses and 

 ready for business." 



First business — breakfast. This we attended to strictly. 

 No fooling nor "soldiering." "Bills receivable" of fried fish, 

 baked beans, baked potatoes, were "accepted" and "dis- 

 counted" without hesitation. Whole invoices of bread and 

 toast were taken in, and storage was at once found for a 

 small line of sausages, while shipments of tea and coffee 

 were taken aboard as fast as offered and no "rates" asked. 

 After this we were pulled ashore, Fordham rigged 

 out with the writer's snipe gun, and we brothers 

 with the trusty thirty-four-inch ten-bores. 



Snugly hid in blinds of favoring bushes or long 

 sedge grass, we fined along the Neck and waited 

 for anything to fly over ! Two little black specks 

 away beyond the yacht, flying low, settled us 

 well hid in blinds, and the writer, with that 

 characteristic unselfishness which marks him, 

 prayed they might come to him; 



But no; mounting to clear the Neck, they 

 swerved to the left, and Fordham's salute bade 

 them "good speed," which they acknowledged 

 with quickened flight, and were soon lost — "to 

 memory dear." 



Standing up to chaff the unfortunate man, 

 our brother's gentle cry, "Get down, you fool, 

 you," came down the wind to us, and we dropped 

 as though we had received Fordham's charge our- 

 self, in a veritable tangle of ulster, gun, legs and 

 f§ bushes. 



C But this bird was to be ours. Heading right 



for us, unconscious of the deadly arm and unfail- 

 ing aim, came a pair of broadbills. Steady, nowl 

 Bang! bang! And these two ducks, unlike Ford- 

 ham's duck, took their course onward, a little 

 more "sou-west bynothe," we judged. 



We. never could understand it, and shall not 

 attempt to explain it, but, as you must know, 

 there 'Was some good reason for the miss. 



Either our cartridges had no shot in them, 

 or the wind, you know, for which we made no 

 allowance, changed at that exact moment, or else 

 they were spectre ducks, or something, we never 

 could tell what, was wrong. 



Any way, the other two men rose up, howled 

 in an altogether needless manner, as though 

 something was a very good thing indeed, and 

 then dropped in to "blind" again." 



Each hour was so filled with a variety of con- 

 stant enjoy-ment, the temptation now is to am- 

 plify anu cover each detail of the week. 

 But cm' bono? 



^ou have the picture -of the start. Can you 

 not imagine the Nahma and her party? Can 

 you not imagine how, alter Fordham left us, we 

 made sail again — how wu passed out into the 

 open bay by Cedar Island Light— how, as the 

 fog shut us in, we ran by "bearings" and com- 

 pass, as it liftedtaking fresh observation^? 

 Can you not hear the animated discussion as to whether it 

 was really too late for hook and line fishing? You certainly 

 feel no surprise to know that we pulled off in the small boat 

 and made fast to "Old Rodney," and tried in vain to hook 

 something or anything, while the yacht stood off and on, 

 awaiting our signal of victory or defeat. 



"Cela va sans dire," that we sailed by "Fireplace Point," 

 where we stepped ashore to replenish our stock of wood, 

 almost reached the shores of "Promised Land," and for harbor, 

 lay snug in the shelter of "Nappeague." 



One night while here the wind again blew for twelve 

 hours a perfect hurricane, and our brother, who had ventured 

 ashore with one of the crew in a crazy search for geese, 

 barely made the yacht, when pulling to her, broadside to the 

 wind; and that only by dragging the boat a quarter of a mile 

 to windward before shoving off. 



Thousands upon thousands of ducks were in the bay, and 

 as we sailed them down they often rose in clouds, while the 

 whistle of their wings seemed like a merry laugh at our ex- 

 pense. 



Many a venturesome bird, however, waiting just too long, 

 met its fate and swelled our load. The loons this year were 

 too quick for us and we failed to secure one, and their 

 mocking cry as they arose from their flash-like dive, was the 

 only response to our guns, save the echo which sometimes 

 came back to us from the distant hiUs or the sides of some 

 passing steamer. 



We cruised to the eastward and the westward hither and 

 thither as we pleased, finally darting across the sound, run- 

 ning between Old Silas and Little Gull, and so by the Light- 

 ship and into .New London. 



Leaving the Nahma and Capt. Bill uutil we again shall 

 hail them, we came out of rooms at the hotel, metamorphosed 

 from flan nelly nauticusses into ordinary 7 landsmen and sober 

 citizens, but. with a brown and ruddy" glow, a healthful and 

 hearty appetite, and a restful spirit," that gave promise of 

 better work and more of it, in office life again. - 

 "Belay all I" B. 



"The Secret op Wing Shooting," which has been 

 copied into about one thousand papers with credit to a Cali- 

 fornia journal, originally appeared in these columns. 



