Deo. SS, 1886.] 



FOREST AND STHEAM. 



4aa 



The f oLIo 

 liowerer. v 



It wa-^ V 



y. o.. \vi 



the swelling outlines of hill and wood, aud we lazily basked in the ' 

 chuTch yard until the white specks iu the distance developed into 

 the forms of the competing yaclits. and warned us to get up anchor 

 for the run home. 



How uLlHrly sm;i.]l ;i canoe feels as her skipper glances over his 

 shoulder and becomes aware of a towering mass of Avliite canvas, 

 shapel;.' mainsaU and trim cut topsail and enormous spinnaker, 

 coming tearing ahmc' behind. 



Thus 3\vept by the leading yacht, triumphant in her pj'ide aud 

 beauty, and soon she was well ahead. But what's up? A sudden 

 shift oi wind, and the noble yacht is down on her beam ends, and 

 topsail, topmast and fl:,in.<i kites sink in shapeless ruin just in 

 time to prevent a capsize. 



Never was the -s alue of patent reefing gear more apparent, as 

 the squall came wlilstling along and found the JSgir ready for it 

 under snug double-reefed touinsail. 



( liTs were still carrying t)\eir spinnakers, which, 

 1 'i in time to save their sticks. 



.1 more to join the home contingent of the H. 



_ .a established in the old spot in the harbor. 



The fleet cousisiiiiL. (jf Mr., Hamilton's new boat, as well as the 

 Tolantlie, Spray and the Bluebottle, and later on a fine sailing 

 canoe, built by Akester, of Hornsea, for Mr. .Jacobs, 16'x i .'10". 



Circumstances not permitting of a lengthened cruise on foreign 

 waters, the old ^gir drifted down to Paull one fine Saturday 

 afternoon, and her o\TOer havinti; intended to stay two or three 

 days, eventually stayed for three montbs. 



Patill! Where's PaullV 1 think I hcai- yom- readers say. The 

 question is escu-able. I ha\-e licard otherwise wt'>!-in'ormed 

 people say; ^Vticrc's Hull? and it is excusable if sonic little ignor- 

 ance exists as to so unobtrusive a place. It is just the fact that 

 Paull 13 a little-known, out-ot'-tbc-wav spot, that const it ute? its 

 charm. It is impossible to imagine P.aiill in anv other i^uisc than 

 as we now &a^v it, and it is to l;ie hoped lliat many years m:i v elapse 

 before the mania for progress .^ci/.cs upon it. As il i:.; now. ibe 

 QUiet old spot bas a most sootliing effect after tlie r,nise and ijustle 

 of Hull, and novliing is pleasaater tban to lind i. no's ^e^f down 

 there after the day's work, and to set sail and sail pleasantlr over 

 its broad bay. It is on old-world spot, aud were if not for tlie tide 

 of commerce oontinually rolling past, itmiglir be a Inl, of the last 

 century. The way to if from Hedou lies across rich grass lands, 

 ■where cattle graze contentedly in the shade of the noble elm trees, 

 and we cafcli a glimpse of the Hnniber and sails of passing ships, 

 as we descend the slope into our villagj. 



Wc ba-e only one street in our village. No si raggling cottages 

 are met with on the way. No, the village street lust begins and 

 just as UTicompromisingly ends. Otr main street, it nnist lie con- 

 fessed, is mat the least bit commonplace, but to sec Pnuli a-rights 

 we must lie at anchor in the hay and then wc obf.crve that tlie 

 houses, which look so demurely on to the streei. have thi-ir pictur- 

 esque side. Note the charming elfects of lisht and sliade as tbn 

 afternoon sun glows on white gable and red roof, gilding the chalk 

 embankments and playinc at hide and seek witli the irregular 

 outline of wharf, jetty and scavrecd covered iiilcs, for everv'man 

 18 his own engineer and uniformitv suffers to the ad vantage "of the 

 picturesque. 



Beyond the idU age we seethe Coast Guard station and an old 

 lighthouse, long disused, but contributing with its red to^ver a 

 warm dash of color to tlic picture, Bcvond this the grassv wood- 

 clad slopes of high Paull. 'i'bosc grassy slopes mark the spot where 

 men tit war that were launched in the old davs of wooflen walls 

 days are fast passing into the realm of tradition. To nuxke nn we 

 have an enterprising resident at the other end of the village v,-ho 

 has a yard where worn out ship.s arc broken up, and many .a stout 

 old craft has nnislied her pilgrimage tliere. It is a fascinating 

 spot for the small boys of the village, and great is their iov wheH 

 they can convert tlie half demolished hull of an old shiii into a 

 castle to garrison and bold against all and snndrv. 



We have a fort, but a sleepy obsolete old fort "with out-of-date 

 guns. The military side of Paull life seldom intrudes itself noon 

 us. The fort hides itself behind the woods of high Paull and the 

 garrison is composed of long-sei-vice men and it is rarelv that a 

 stray uniform shows itself on our street. 



Sometimes indeed, to show that it is not yet quite extinct, the 

 fort wakes into life and then the soul of old Father Humher is 

 vexed and nis bosom rent by shot and shell and wreaths of blue 

 smoke float lazily away over tlie trees. On these occasions it is 

 well for the canoeist to gn e the fort a wide berth. 



Our hostelry, the Royal Oak, occupies the center of the street 

 and a comtortable, homely spot it is, with a capital hest and host- 

 ess, whose one object seems to be to administer to our comforts- 

 and a rambling sort of storehouse is attached, a verv paradise of 

 boating gear, punt guns, sails, spars and nets of all kinds. Our 

 host IS abundantly blcssetl m the matter of chUdren. and finer 

 specimens we need not wish to see. The eldf st hov is a great allv 

 ot ours, ha^'lng arrived at an age to go A^-ith hiV fatlTcr on his 

 shrimping expeditions. He is an inveterate iishcrman, aud i" 

 always engaged m mysterious private ventures <3f iiis own with 



and It is difficult to resist his entreaties to be taken out in the 

 canoe for an evening sail, liow-ever much we niav know that he 

 has escaped from maleroal control. What are the prospects of 

 ultirnate slaps compared ^nrh the joy of the moment? Hi= great- 

 est glory IS Avhen he is permitted to go out in the .shrimper, and is 

 allowed to steer for a few moments, and it is a sight to ,=ee him 

 plant hiinselt squarely on his stm-dy little legs and grapple with 

 tile nuge tiller. 



moment of rest and peace, when for a time the cares of "life seem 

 as far away as the white sails out seav/ard. 



The graves all look seaward, too, as though their ouiet tenauts 

 were still looking out for their returning shins. No steteiy monu! 

 mentswnth lying mscriptions, only the humble graves of sener- 

 ations of simple Paull folk, 'f'here lie the men Spon whom Engl 

 land could rel5% when her fleets swept the ocean. The men avITo 

 sailed those old-fashioned boats, of which a few specimens lin°-er 

 m the harbor, mocking with their bhrtf bows and clumsy counters 

 t:ie graceful ehppers of to-day. Yes! I suppose they, too. in their 

 time, looked lovingly on tlieir unwieldly cnrft and dilated on their 

 beauties. One gravestone intrudes itself upon mv dav dream "it 

 records the departure of an old army captain, who, "after surviv- 

 ing many honorable wounds" and many a hard fought field in 

 those old days when England stood alone against a world inarm« 

 came to spend the evening of his life in quiet old Paull. I have 

 gi-own quite accustomed to my old captain, his grave stands ju=t 



with the courtly grace of a by-gone century, and after tending me 

 his silver snufl- box proceed to enter into the detailed explanation 

 of the coinphcated strategy of some forgotten campaign . A little 

 prolix perhaps he is, and apt to get his contending forces decided! v 

 nuxed up. 1 have credited him with a wooden leg, I do not know 

 why: there is no direct evidence to pro^'e the facts, but Avithout a 

 wooden leg and a stiff, tightly tied military queue, 1 should not 

 know him, and did he appear before me minus such appendao-es I 

 should regard htm as an impostor. ° ' 



How did he get to Paull v His very name is forgotten, but to me 

 he IS an old friend, and we have a common vested interest in that 

 quiet corner of the old churcli ya,rd. Peace be with lus shade. 

 He, like many otliers, did Ms share in building up oxiv great em- 

 pire, tor us to value and guard the sacred inheritance 



I can think of nothing more dehghtfail than the fact dawning 

 upon the awakening senses that it is Sunday morning. No rush- 

 mg off to catch the early train to town. No! A whole dav of 

 open air, and as I sit at breakfast, ftiUy appreciating the fact that 

 I '^'^^'^ ^- before me a charming picture 



framed by the wide open window of mv little sitting room A 

 broad e-xpanse of sunlit water, and in I lie background Hull. Yes, 

 Hun ! certainly, but to-da.v it is tor me but a feature in the land- 

 scape. No longer one of its commercial slaves, I can look upon it 

 with feelings ot unconcern. (3nly a tew miles across the bav, but 

 it might be a few hundred yards for aU it has to do with niv life 

 to-day. How hnght and beautiful everything is this morning, as 

 Itake stock of the mirneditte toreground. Eirst our two yachts 

 bnng at anchor immediat el y before me. They too seem to realize 

 tlie fact that It IS Sunday and a nne day. How bright] v the sun 

 shines on the well set up rigging and white sail covers, and 

 sparkles on brass work and skylight as thevbow languidlvto each 

 other on the laz.y sweU of the tide. They .seem to be saying to each 

 other. We are not quite like them, you know," meaning of 

 course, the shrimpers which lie at their moorings around With- 

 out the dainty fittings and bright bunting of the yaclits, the 



shrimpers are in their line as Avorthy of admiration. No amount 



of tar and tan conceal their inborn grace and beauty. 



Ah 1 there is the old ^^Kgir. George, my host's eldest boy, has 

 brought lier round from the creek. He lias even permitted a 

 couple of Ilia boy compa nions to accompany him. You can see he 

 is an incipient yacht skij.iper (arid to be such is tlie grand ambition 

 of all Pauli boys) as ho sits in an attitude of command at the 

 helm. He is not allowed to hoist the mainsail, so has to make 

 what sailing he can -with the mizzen, Iso-vv he is ordering his 

 crew to let go the anchor, sails arc made up yacht fasliion— for the 

 Mgiv aspires to be one of the aristocracy— and he sends a striiigof 

 signal flags fluttering to the mast head, and the old xHgir, like the 

 others, rej<iices in vh.e fact tliat it is Sunday as she lies gently 

 rolling on the ripple.s of the bay. 



Beyond the anchored craft, a few hundred yards away, right in 

 the center of the picture can be seen the buoy marking the taO of 

 the Skitter sand. As every ship making for Hull must pass be- 

 tween me and lliat buoy, I am -.veil placed for obser\nng tue nau- 

 tical panorama. lle!\- cmucs i.he Swedish, clo.sely f oUow^ed by the 

 Norwegian mail steamer. How nobly theyplough tlieir w'ay along 

 with awnings spread fore and aft, and crowded from eud'to end 

 with Scandinav ian emigi'ants to the land of promise. I feel glad 

 that their (ir.sf glimpse of old England finds her wreathed in sunny 

 smiles. The officers are clustered on the bridge, we can almost 

 distinguish th-jir features. The flags are stopped at the masthead, 

 and as Paull is pas.sed, burst simultaneously, and house flag, mail 

 flag and glorious red ensign float proudly on the breeze. As I sit 

 here there passes in review quite a naval procession. Schooners 

 beating' uj) stream, sturdy fisiiing smacks with their red and yel- 

 low tan!ied sails. All sorts and conditions of steamers, from the 

 great Atlantic lines to the fussy little tugs, and perhaps a four 

 masted clipper shiii to\', ing up to Hull, with a stray Thames barge 

 and a billy-hoy or two. 



But the tide'is turning and the anchored craft are swinging, and 

 it is time to be otT for a Inng sail down stream, returning with the 

 evening tide. So if are lazy, and such is alas too often the 

 case, we can snd about in ilie Tieighborhood, for in the slack water 

 ot Paull bay we are independent of tide, aud need not bo farawav 

 wlien a v.-hife ilag tlyin.cc at the iioyal Oak warns us that dinner is 

 under way. 



It is pleasant sometimes to vary our Humber cruises by a run up 

 the creek which once bore the wealth and commerce of the world 

 to Hedon. Our creek holds an important place in the life of Paull, 

 and is hut a few minutes walk from the vtUage along the river 

 bank, and as we walk along the embankment wo notice the Dutch 

 like aspect of the country, lying as it does below the level of high 

 tide, with vU-h corn land stretching awav in the distance, andhere 

 and there a farm house embosomed in trees, and gray church 

 to\,ers and red roofs of quiet old villages. It is a picture full of 

 calm and repose. The passing clouds throw broad stretches of 

 shadow over meadovv and woodland, the verv cattle looking the 

 image of contentment, the only moving thiu^ being the sails of a 

 keel slowiy making its way to Hedon andshowing above the banks 

 of the creek. The lower parts of the creek is the home of the 

 smaller shrimpers, and no prettier sights can be seen than when 

 the morning tide has Ufted them and they are a,U bobbing about at 

 their moorings, and a procession of fisherman make their way 

 from the village and push off in various shakv old boats. The red 

 sails are hoisted, and one by one the bonny little cutters steal 

 .-.ilenti.N out of the haven with the cleverest of maneuvers, for the 

 entrance is narrow-, and out on to the broad Humber for the dav's 

 work; and the harbor is deserted save by a stately schooner yacht 

 lying d;smantled at her moorings, and a few .superannuated 

 shrimpers Avhose history coca back into the nigJit of time. 



The ^^Sgir is got under way, and «ith the flood tide under her 

 has a merry time beating up the narrow creek, and her steersman 

 looks OA-er the country around and wonders where he would land 

 if the banks were to give way. 



After a couple of miles ol" twisting .and turning, Mdth Hedon 

 church now ahead, tlien to starboard, then to port, he arrives 

 eventually at the river head and makes fast to one of the keels 

 that IS dischai-ging cargo at one of the wharfs. 



A tdiarming picture. If might be fresh from the brush of some 

 Dutch lanascape painter. The creek, with a few river craft brio-ht 

 with varnish and paint, and of considerable vahte in the composi- 

 tion. A warehouse or two, old enough to be picturesque, and ris- 

 ing above the elm trees in the background, the grand old tower of 

 Hedon Church, with delicate tracery of window, pinnacle and but- 

 tress looking dowm protectingly on the red roofs of the old town 

 nestling at its feet. At the head of the creek a windmill, which 

 seems to emphasize the old-world surroundings, and as it emits a 

 musical munnur, it seems to be entering its protest against the 

 hurry and hustle of this steam-driven age, aud its sails standing 

 out white against the blue sky, keep time to the chimes of the old 

 church. They are quaint old hymn tunes, which the chimes with 

 manv a pause and start aud some little confusion, mark the eve- 

 ning hours \\ithal. No brazen-throated bells these, but .subdued 

 and melodious and in harmony with the quiet of the scene 



The keelmen, we know thein all now, and have learned to sym- 

 pathize with them in their hard struggle for existence in these 

 days of depression and low freights, are alwa>^s glad to welcome 

 the dainty little boat with her white sails and fluttering burtree 

 alongside their gneat bluff Dutch-built craft, and to make the 

 Skipper free of thv^ir narrow quarter decks and snug little cabins 

 with courteoits invitation to take a cun of tea with the "missus " 

 It is pleasant thus to while away an hour, as in thequamf incisive 

 West Yorkshire dialect, they tell us of the dangers and tribula- 

 tions of np-river navigation, and of the good old davs before rail- 

 ways had played such have with their trade. 



AATiat had been intended for a few days stay at Paull had de- 

 veloped into one of weeks. A I'cally fine summer tempted its pro- 

 longation, and it was a happy day when my old mate, the compan- 

 iou of many a joUy cruise, emancipated from hospital work in 

 London, burst in upon us fuU of enthusiasm and longing for the 

 sea. 



Now the Mate is possessed of that wonderful gift of instantly 

 taking first place in public estimation and it was but a short time 

 before lie v. as quite ai(. /ai( in Paull life. With the women he was 

 first favoriie, the children adored him and he managed— what the 

 Skipper never could achieve— to become intimately acquainted 

 with all the complicated family ramifications of Paull society for 

 in Paull everybody seems to be cousins or aunts or uncles to' each 

 other. 



All too quicldy the summer passed away and many a jolly cruise 

 we had and many a pleasant evening sail, often joined for a dav 

 or two by the members of the H.Y.C. with their boats when 'cratch 

 races would he organized and carried out under the criticising eve 

 of the fishermen on the jetty. • 



When a PanU fisherman is not actually engaged in fishing opera- 

 tions he congregates with others of the craft on the iettv and 

 gazes solemnly riverward or else sit in rows on the banks tif the 

 creek and criticises the boats. There is no record of a Paull fisher- 

 man deliberately taking a country walk. 



There were occasions when ourfair friends from Hull would shed 

 the liglit of their presence upon us and then the Baronet our 

 host's shrimper, ys-ould be requisitioned, and all traces of her daily 

 occupation being done away with, made a first-class yacht. These 



the kitchen. " -mpromptu dance in 



It w-as pleasant too, when after a long evening sail, and when 

 the canoe had been moored in the creek among the shrimpers 

 lying peacefully at rest, to walk up to the village through the 

 npenmg corn fields, and to join the circle in the kitchen where 

 the talk whs mostly of fishing and fishing boats, and hkemse of 



Sachts. (What an oiacle the Mate was on these occasions' He 

 ad an impressive way of laying down the law on things which he 

 understood as well as those he did not.) We are very scientific in 

 PauU, and set great store on good fines and fine models. Our 

 host is the owmer of one of the crack shrimpei s, and had carried 

 off two prizes during the season, for we ha\ e our regatta too at 

 PauU, and no one need wish i;o see finer sailing than we saw dis- 

 played as the Baronet and the other clippers were skilfully sailed 

 round a difficult triangular course. It was marvellous to see 

 one man manage an eight ton cutter, set and take in spinnakers 

 and manage successfully to saU his craft to victorv amid the 

 changes and chances of a hard-fought race. On these occasions 

 at the courteous inwltation of the " influential committee" ("^ee 

 programme) we accompanied them round the course in one of 

 the largest shrimpers to see fair play. 



But aU tilings must end, and summer alas is no exception to 

 the rule. The cornnelds which we had watched change from 

 green to gold were now bared of their crops and the liarvest 

 gathered in, and the e-v enings rapidly closing in rendered canoe- 

 ing impossible, and one Saturday witnessed the closing scene. 



For the last time, a flue fleet under the flag of the H. Y. C casts 

 anchor in PauU Bay after a Uvely heat thi-ongh a typical Humber 

 sea. 



our homely quarters were the scene of a good spread, in the 

 preparation ot which our exceUent hostess and Aimt PoUv had 

 8urpas.sed themselves. 



The Skipper presided, supported on the one handby our Notting- 

 ham friend, representing the T. V. S. C, and who thus fulliUed a 

 pledge entered on when we last sailed in company, and on the 

 other by the "Mayor of PauU." You wiU seek the title vainly in 

 any published lists ot mayors, but thus we designated one of our 



oldest and most respected inhabitants. The Mate occupied the 

 vice chair, supporters by our two yacht captains, brave in blue 

 coats and gold buttons, and up and down were scattei'ed various 

 Paull fishermen in their Sunday best, and membei's of the H. Y. C, 

 in their white flannels. 



There was the member who, meet him where you may, in 

 crowded streets or country lane, then and there produces for your 

 approval, plans for his next boat, -which, like all *'next boats," is to 

 be perfection. Then there was the member, who, under similar 

 circumstances, as assuredly produces from his pockets, a half 

 model of his next boat. Both had now got sympathizing listeners, 

 for the PauU flshermen can talk boats until further orders. 



Then there was oitr legal member, who had just let his boat be 

 run into aud sunk by a steamer m order to establish his \-iew of 

 the road at sea, and with a claim on the steamer for damage, and 

 a claim on himself for salvage, wa.B quite in his element. A 

 sprinkling of Paull residents and friends from Hull completed the 

 party, which was fuUy permeated with that mutual sympathy 

 which is a bond of union between all who "go down to the sea in 

 ships." 



With the advent of the punch bowl began the eloquence, and it 

 was with feelings of sadness that t lie Captain bid aU welcome, 

 knowing that this in some sorts was the celebration of the obse- 

 quies of another boating season shortly to be laid at rest with the 

 golden memories of so many otliers. Speeches of varied length 

 and merit foUowed. Needless to state that the Mate was happy 

 in speaking for the ladies. He had doubtless not forgotten our 

 little yachting trips. Then we had a speech from our principal 

 resident bristling A«th statistics as to the progi'eas of PauU, and 

 predicting a glorious future, and we were informed that building 

 operations had attained a magnitude surpassing anything within 

 the memory of the oldest inhabitant, for wore not four new 

 houses actually being buUt at once! True, they were to replace 

 those which had fallen into dilapidation. Then our Nottingham 

 visitor expressed himself in a neat and appropriate speech, bring- 

 ing the greetings of the silver reaches ot the Trent to the brown 

 stretches of the Humber. Our worthy host of the Royal Oak 

 alone failed us, obstinately declining to get on his legs or utter a 

 sentiment of any kind, and in spite of loud calls continued to puff 

 his long clay with exasperating complacency. 



From eloquence to harmony, and some excellent sea songs were 

 given, not by the seafarers present. Sea songs are somewhat of a 

 fraud. Our experience is that sailors, so f.ar from indulging in 

 chronic melody of the rollicking "yeo-heave-yo" type, are given to 

 singing extremely lugubrious songs, dilating at interminable 

 length on some specially dismal subject. 



And so, ^dth this little flicker, the season of 1880 died a natural 

 death, and with it were buried many a pleasant memory, not the 

 least pleasant being those in which file fresh breezes and the 

 kindly fishermen of Paull play so conspicuous a part. 



AU the Humher boats are laid up now. The old ^Egir has re- 

 turned to Hornsea Mere, where, with the Cassy and a few others, 

 she enjoys an hour or two's sail on soroe rare, tine Saturday after- 

 noon. The winter will proably see several new boats built by 

 Akester of Hornsea, and should the Hornsea Mere Company con- 

 tinue its operations, a considerable impetus will doubtless be 

 given to canoe sailing. 



Tlie only cnuse of any importance was made by Mr. Holmes on 

 the Norfolk Broads, wlule the Upper Trent and Witham were 

 visited by the Spray and the Bluebottle. 



Mr. Hamilton's new canoe has stood the test of the season, and 

 is a decided success, and Mr. Jacobs's new boat, though appealing 

 ing late on in the season, has won golden opinions. .^GiH. 



Kingston upon Hitll, Enelaud, Dec. 1, 1SS6. 



THE RACE PROGRAMME FOR 1887.— We have received aa 

 we go to press a proposed programme for the races at the next 

 meet, to be submitted to members of the A. C. A, for their sug- 

 gestions and criticism before being finally adopted. 



The Tbavelebs has paid on accident policies alone over $1,700 

 a day for every working day of its existence.— ^di'. 



Address aU communieati&ns to the Forest and Stream Puh, Co. 



CRUISE OF THE COOT. 



UPON putting my head out of the cabin at 5 A. M., the wind was 

 found blowing moderately from N. E., with the skv overcast 

 and a heavy bank of threatening clouds rising slowly from the 



ter, enabling me to run before it and round up to westward of the 

 shoal for smooth water. Aftei' a hasty breakfast, the mainsail 

 was got on a stretch and with some misgiying the boat cleared out 

 of the harbor. It was not yet blowing hard enougli to call for a 

 reef, and being anxious to make all .speed possible the precaution 

 of snugging doyvn was omitted. The Long Shoal makes out six 

 mUes from the mainland, but has 6ft. of water haU' way out to the 

 screw spUe lighthouse, which marks the tail end of the' danger. In 

 heavy weather the sea breaks clear out and runs with great velo- 

 city, being often steep enough to "pitch pole" a smaU boat, or to 

 roll her over if allowed to broach to. With boom weU off to star- 

 board the Coot f oUowed the coast down, the wind and sea steadUy 

 increasing, a fact which remains almost unobserved when slipping 

 do\\Ti wind until the time for reefing is past due. Three miles had 

 been made, when suddenly the sky to the southward lightened up 

 The gray mists and smoke broke away and a lurid red, like the' 

 glare of a distant fire, overspread the vault above. In contrast to 

 this the inky blackness of the ugly bank to the northward was 

 forcibly revealed. ^\Tien clear of the lee made bv Stumpy Point 

 the wind came down in earnest. The black nimbus clouds cUmhed 

 into the heavens and expanded into great size overhead with ap- 

 palling rapidity. With them came tearing blasts and a cold, cut- 

 ting rain astern, everything was shut out in darkness and the 

 blinding sheets of a terrific do^vnpour. From Croatan Sound the 

 gale drove the water before it in savage-looking billows, from 

 which it whipped the scud and sent it flying ahead. To turn the 

 Coot for a beat back to Stumpy Point was at once out of question 

 The gale had broken upon us w ith so httle warning and such fury 

 that the little Ught-draft craft coiUd not have been kept at it, but 

 would have jumped off into the trough and been overpowered 

 by cons of boarding water. To run her was the only alternative, 

 but even that would have steered her into the long lines of foam- 

 ing breakers which were already piling in on the sands in the ut- 

 most confusion. The sea was rising fast and canvas had to be got 

 off at once or it would go out of the bolt ropes. Watching a luU 

 the Coot was turned head up as high as she could be made to loolc 

 for a moment or two. I jammed the tUler hard a-lee, but this was 

 of no avail, for the yacht soon lost her way. and being of light dis- 

 placement, fell off and gathered sternhoard. All this required a 

 little time. Meanwhile, she plunged and rolled so viciously that! 

 expected the spar would be whipped out of the boat. Fortunately 

 it was a fine stick and Tin. diameter. Barrels of water broke 

 aboard aU round. First the craft dove head into it as though 

 bound direct for the bottom, then clearing herself with difficulty 

 she would tumble to windward and pick up six inches in her gang- 

 way, and after lifting to the hoUow face of the next roller she 

 would be slid along and scoop up another dose on the leeward roU 

 The sea was overwhelming the boat with superimposed weight,' 

 for the cabin house and cockpit coaming prevented quick escape 

 to the load. The water began slopping over into the cockpit, 

 buckets full at every gyration. The boom dove a+ c\'ery plunge, 

 flew into the air when released and took charge of things gener- 

 aUy. ThosaU slatted and made a racket like'^a. volley of pistols. 

 Tluiigs were going rapidly from bad to worse, but I had crawled 

 fonvard aud by dtnt of extraordinary acrobatics held on for dear 

 life, casting oit the halliards and rousing down the luff half wav 

 during the instant of poise between each plunge. The boat had 

 by this time fallen off into the trough. She gave one teixible roll 

 to leeward, burying nearly up to the king plank. For a moment 

 she hung as if on her beam ends. The sea rushed into the cockpit 

 like a miniature waterfall. I thought she was crnne. But the 

 wave which had -wrought the damage passed fron-i under, and the 

 Coot feU to windward with a dull lurch, -si bieh announced her 

 half swamped condition. She steadied for the next sea or two as 

 though exhausted with her wild antics. I worked mv way aft 

 hastily, broke out a stop from the stern locker, got in the sheet 

 and rousing tiie slack saU on the boom, tied down the leech leav- 

 ing the btmt of the canvas hanging below the boom like a ham- 

 mock. At the same time shoved the tiUer hard up with one foot, 

 and had the satistaction to notice a welcome sea cuff the boat's 

 head off, brmgmg the \rind nearly quartering. The cat gathered 

 steerage as I paid out sheet, and was once more scudding before 

 the gale. Keeping the helm a-weather with my back, some of the 

 water taken in was baled out at intervals. 



