FOREST AMD STBEAM. 



|MAY 10, 1888. 



BROOKLYN, May 2.— The unfavorable weather tc-daytendril 

 m a great rreattre to prevent Ihe rrcmiicnt wing shots from 

 sbcotirg at Wccdlawn. Only eight -were pTctent at the trap, but 

 they did some good shooting. 



First Sweepstakes. 



H McLaughlin (25) 101 1110— ft H Buckley (21) 0000010-1 



Or Porter (24) H1U111-6 H Blattmaoher (25) 10110C0— 3 



A Schwartz (29). 111G011— 5 G Jones (25) 0110111—5 



P Leih (21) 1001100—3 WE Allan (27) 1000111-4 



I Ties I'or second prize won by H. McLaughlin. 



Second Sweepstakes. 



H McLaughlin (SO) 01 11 101 -5 Dr Porter (SO) 1111 11 1-7 



W E Allan (30) 1110110-5 H Blat.tnia.eher (30) 0000111-3 



A Schwartz (30) 1001111-5 P Leib (25) 1011100-4 



G. Jones (30) 11C0111-5 H Buckley (21) 0001003—1 



Allen mid Jones divided second. Referee, Mr. H. McLnughlin. 

 THE ENGLISH CUP.— The championship of England pigeon 

 shooting challenge cup. originally held by Dr : Carver* will jtgaiu 

 be submitted for public com net '.t ion. on May 3d, at the Welsh 

 Harpi Hendon. The cup, which is a beautiful specimen Of the 

 silversmith's art, is of the value of $600, and 1 lie holder will be 

 entitled to the designation of champion pigeon shot of England. 

 An entrance fee of $35 will be charged. John L. Brewer, the 

 American trap-shot, has entered for the event and will be one of 

 the contestants. He is shooting better than tver, and will tie 

 backed to win, 



NEW YORK STATE SHOOT,- Auburn, N. Y„ Mav O.-The 

 final preparations are nearly completed for the thirtieth annual 

 tdurnament of the N. Y. S. Association. This tournament prom- 

 ises to be by far the most satisfactory and successful ever given 

 m this State. I am confident that the success of this shoot under 

 our auspices is beyond question, and I can safely say that there 

 will be more new clubs join the Association at its convention 

 here, May 28, than ever before joined the Association at any one 

 time since it was organized. All this I attribute to the large 

 number of prizes and the mode of classifying which is to he 

 practiced. Our estimated entries in each one of our six regular 

 contests wil average, over 100.— Chak. E. liEitn, Secretary. 



NEWARK, N. J., May 3.— C. M. Hedden and Gustave Ereche 

 shot a fifty-bird match at Erb's to-day under Hurlington rules, 

 Hedden standing at thirty yards iioin the trap and Frechc at 

 twenty-live. The latter Used Schultze powder, in Ky noch shells, 

 and Hedden used Sehuitzc powder, in U. M. 0. first Quality shells. 

 The birds were excellent flyers. The result was as follows: 



Hedden l:^01112122110- , 51212r:i2inOOC0111113110201131121S{l-43, 



Frechc 1 1222 1] 00 1 1 1 121 1 221 20 1 101211 01 1 121 1 1 121 1201 1 21021 2- 12. 



Hedden used second ban-el seventeen times, Freche fifteen. 



EBB VS. G BAH AM.— The third and concluding bird match be- 

 tween Erb and Graham, to have been shot May 3, at Connesville, 

 Ind., was postponed, owing to rah: and wind. It will occur at St. 

 Louis at some date not yet named. A twenty-live bird match 

 was won by Erb, who killed 23 to Graham's 22. 



WELLINGTON, Mass., May 5.— The weekly shoot at the Wel- 

 lington range to-day was attended by a goodly number, and the 

 four traps vied with each other to send the largest number of 

 birds in midair. In the Grimes match Melchcr captured the 

 prize. In the merchandise match points were scored as follows: 

 Perry 19, Stanton, Chase and Bert 18, Swift, Phelps, Scott and 

 Nichols 17, Melcher, Bond and DcRoehmont 16, Sanborn. Schaefer, 

 Tyler and Grimes If, Snow U, Stone and Shumway 13, Bowker, 

 French and Bow ker 11. 



The Peters Cartridge Co., Cincinnati, O— Gentlemen: I have 

 used several hniul red of your cartridges, and I find they are in 

 every respect precisely what you claim for them. The slight re- 

 coil, excellent penetration and unequal cd uniformity make them 

 in my opinion the best cartridges 1 ever used. Wm. Wagner. 

 (Washington, D. 0., April 11, 1888). -Adv. 



THE ATLANTIC DIVISION MEET. 



rpHE Committee on Camp Site ha3 handed in the following re- 

 JL port: 



Henry Stanton, Exci.. Vicc-C< m. Atlantic. Division, A. C. A: 



DeakStk— The committee appointed by you to select a date 

 ami place for the first meet of the new Atlantic Division respect- 

 fully submit the following report: 



First, in regard to date, we recommend that the rendezvous be 

 c-'U^d fir Saturday Jul v 14 and thil the foil v.ving week be de- 

 voted to the camp, the races being held on the first three days of 

 the second week, as in the Assoc iation meets. 



We have, investigated a number of proposed locations and vis- 

 ited the most, promising, but as yet have found none possessing 

 all the requirements for a camp of upward of one hundred for 

 ten days or more; which requirements, in the estimation of your 

 committee, are as follows: Good water for sailing, si urt cruises 

 and racing; dry and wooded ground for main and ladies' camp; 

 beaching facilities; fresh water supply; food supply; accessibility; 

 freedom from intrusion. 



Allot' these must, be had jn order CO make the meet a success, 

 but among the many locations suggested none Las yet beeu found 

 that is not open to some grave objection. The great, difference 

 between camping a large body for some days and a brief bivouac 

 on a cruise, does not seem to have been appreciated by most of 

 those who have offered suggestions, hence many places have been 

 dismissed after a brief inquiry, without wasting time on a visit 

 of inspection. Among the places suggest* a were the Delaware, 

 Potomac, Hudson and Shrewsbury rivers, Ran tan Bay, Cow Bay, 

 Huut ington Bav and Ovster Bay. la regard to the first two, your 

 committee did nor consider themselves at liberty to recommend 

 any site so far from the center of canoeing population, so to 

 speak, of the Division; as though some new members might be en- 

 listed, the first aim of the new Division, to m?et the wants of pre- 

 sent members about the Lower Hudson, would of necessity be 

 sacrificed. A site on the Hudson was not considered, as it has 

 been understood from the first that the meet was to he on salt 



^Realizing fully the difficulties which attend tho transportation 

 of canoes through New York city, and also the advantages of a 

 point west; of New York for canoeists on the Delaware, your com- 

 mittee have given special attention to Raritan and Sandy Hook 

 bays and the Shrewsbury, especially as some pressure has been 

 brought Hi bear on f hem in favor of these localities. A number 

 of indefinite suggest ions have been received, but a, slight exami- 

 nation of each has shown that the proposer had in mind rather a 

 brief bivouac than a large camp with the requirements men- 

 tioned above. The committee being long familiar with the en- 

 tire shore of Statcu Island, were unable to suggest any site there; 

 the South Beach, where alone open water can be had, being en- 

 tirely too exposed, with a surf at times in summer. The Shrews- 

 bury', the Highlands a.nd Sandy Hook are likewise well known to 

 the committee, but the very switt tide in the former river would 

 make if impossible to sail or race there, while higher up, about 

 Pleasure Bay, the. water is shoal, w ith mud at low tide, and the 

 shores are low, marshy, and infested with mosqnitoes. The 

 Navesink River has also been suggested, but no suitable location 

 is known there.. One place suggested, the small i-land in the 

 Shrewsbury near its month, is in the midst of a strong tide for a 

 part of the dav and surrounded by sand flats at extreme low 

 water. The adjoining shores, beneath the Highlands, have also 

 been suggested, but besides the ;.swift tide there is no space for a 

 camp at the foot of the high ana steep bluff;;. , 



The shores of Raritan Bay have been recommended by a num- 

 ber, but only two, Dr. E\ W. Kitohell of Perth Author, and 

 •"Seneca," have gone into details or pointed out any particular 

 spot. These two gentlemen recommended the mouth of Cheese- 

 quake Creek, and jour committee have consequently inspected it 

 most caref nil v. The time of low tide was chosen, and the com- 

 mittee walked from South Amboy along the bench to a point well 

 beyond both mentioned by "Seneca." The first point was entirely 

 too small, a beautiful spot to camp for a dav when cru-.sing, but 

 too limited in area to affor 1 any variet y during a longer stay. It 

 is part of a small hill cut off by the railroad, high enough to over- 

 look the water, with a fine \i;w, but lying near other high sand 

 hills it would be v< r . hot in summer. The chief objection to this, 

 and in fact all the shore from Amboy to the Highlands, is that 

 at low tide the sand flats are bare for a distance of one-quarter 

 to one-half mile from Ihe shore. . , ' +J. 



Proceeding to the second location, just east or Cheesecjuake 

 Creek, a gravel bluff some 40ft. high was found, rising sharply 

 -from a beach of sand and coarse pebbles, over which a canoe 

 could not be dragged, but with room for canoes at the foot of the 

 bluff. Along the west face the slope is more moderate and cov- 

 ered with scrub cedars and pines, the only shade within a long 

 ffistance. At the top of the bluff is a plowed field, and though 

 the view is true, with a good sailing course at higu water, the 

 sand i8 bare for a quarter of a mile at low tide, the area of shade 

 is very limited, and there is no place for a ladies' camp. Fresh 

 water can be had from a well about one-eighth .mile distant; meat. 



eggs, milk and other stores can be had easily, the. station is near 

 at hand, with trains to New York and Philadelphia, boats run to 

 Perth Amboy and Keyport, two miles distant, and finally per- 

 mission can be had to use the grounds without, charge; but looking 

 at the two serious difficulties, the shoal water and lack of shade, 

 your committee cannot recommend the selection of the place. 

 No other sito in the locality is at present known to them, butthey 

 will gladly investigate any that may he brought to their notice, 

 provided seme definite information be given. 



Ooit.g new to Lot r Island Sound, there is nothing nearer than 

 Cow Bay, which locality your committee have examined "thor- 

 oughly, going oa er the entile beach on foot from Sand's Point to 

 the village of Mauhanset. The best location is near Barker's 

 Point, within 114 miles of Sand's Point Dock by land or water, 

 and about I mile by water from Great Neck Dock. It is accessi- 

 ble practically by boat only to one of these points, the nearest 

 railroad station, 1 hour from New York, being about 7 miles from 

 the proposed site by land. In summer five boats each way call at 

 Sand'-, Point Dock. fiouiEast River piers in New York, fare 

 SlS cents each way. The distance is but 21 miles from the Battery, 

 so that many would prefer to cruise, but with one or two boats 

 in the morning and others later in the day, there would be no 

 trouble in reaching camp) while the trip would not he one that 

 would aftiact a large crowd of outsideis. Along the. beach for 

 over % mile is a bluff from 5 to 20ft, high, drv, sandy soil, rising 

 io a lull at the back, all meadow land With a belt of shade trees 

 about 80ft. wide along the water, in which the camp could be 

 spread out, with ample space for a ladies' camp at one end. 

 The beach faces S.VY. with a tine view of tho Sound and the 

 mouth of Mauhanset. Bay on which it is situated; while opposite 

 are New Rochelle and Glen Island, with manv pleasant, places 

 Pear by for short cruists. 



Good racing courses could be laid out, but in the bay oyster 

 stakes are planted at intervals, a serious nuisance in sailing. 

 Fresh waf er can be had by driving a well near the beach at small 

 expense, and the village of Port Washington, within two miles by 

 land or water, will furnish all supplies. There, is also a good har- 

 bor for yachts that might visit the camp. The great difficulty is 

 the beach; the rise and fall of the tide from 7 toKft,, leaving about 

 80 to lOOff. of beach exposed, and this is of rough stones as large 

 as the fist , with many large boulders in places. Spaces of 100ft. 

 can be fouud along the beach that are free from the latter, and 

 these might easily be cleared of the worst of the stones; but still 

 it would he impossible to drag a canoe up or down over the re- 

 maining stones. Something might be done, in the way of a wide 

 plank walk doyvn to low-water mark, anchored down with stones, 

 up and down .which canoes might be hauled; but no system of 

 float seems practicable without a very heavy expense. 



This difficulty is one that must be met almost anywhere ou salt 

 water about New York, where the rise and fall of the tide is 

 from 5 to 8ft.; and though increased in the present case by the 

 a I - 1 of sandy beach, it must be present in a degree every- 

 where. Of course at high water and even half tide the trouble 

 wiil be much lessened, but it so happens that the time of full 

 moon, when it is most desirable to hold the meet, is also that of 

 the spring tides, rising higher and falling lower than at other 

 times in the month. Material for tho construction of ways of 

 some kind might possibly be hired for a couple of weeks at 

 Pert Washington, where a number of old war vessels are being 

 torn apart, leaving plenty of spars and planks. Another disad- 

 vantage is the presence of a picnic grove, Idlewild, frequented by 

 excursions from New York, about w mile from the proposed site, 

 but as these excursions are landed directly at the grove and find 

 their amusements within its l.mits, they might prove no objec- 

 tion; in any case, wherever the camp may be located within 

 some miles of New York or any large city, a watchman will pro- 

 bably be necessary. 



The property la question is owned by Mrs. J. H. Cornwall, who 

 resides about ]A mile distant, and who will allow the Division 

 to camp free of charge provided no damage be done to the trees 

 and that proper precautions against fire be taken. Wood for fuel 

 can readily be obtained near by. Your committee are still ready 

 to search further if any better localities can be suggested, but 

 this site would seem practicable, and sets at. rest all doubts as to 

 obtaining a fairly good camp ground; while at the same time 

 there are some weeks yet in which a further search can be made. 

 W. P. Stephens, Chairman, ) 

 Wm. Whitlock, y Committee. 



II. M. Carpenter, ) 



A CRUISE ON THE EAST COAST OF ENGLAND. 



HOW to begin a log is always a puzzle. Commence it how one 

 will it doesn't look right. We will try this time by first of all 

 introducing ourselves, follow on with a description of our buats, 

 and that done ,np anchor and forge ahead with an account of our 

 daily (bungs. With quarterdeck manners we now doff our caps 

 and say we are men with a strong aquatic taste, that our boating 

 names are Sabrina, Muriel and Gipsy, aud t hat we fly the Mersey 

 C. C. burgee. We have hitherto been firm believers in the ordin- 

 ary Mersey paddling canoe, and have enjoyed many a joyous time 

 in such craft, hut in the autumn of 1888, while cruising on the 

 open waters of the Sound of Jura we became convinced that more 

 pleasure could he bod in a boat possessing greater beam and free- 

 board, one that could take care of herself a bit in a blow. This 

 being rank heresy was debated iu great secrecy, so as not to reach 

 the. ears of the older members, but needs must when a certain 

 gentleman has the ribbauds. 



In recent cruises we had been sadly bothered with dunnage- 

 dunnage largely increased by photographic cameras, air beds, the 

 luxury of a more recherche cuisine aud so ou until our little boats 

 were sadly hampered in a seaway. Such tilings should not be. 

 Besides, cruises of late had partaken of a more ambitious char- 

 acter than the short trips of days gone by. A new and more 

 powerful canoe therefore seemed desirable, but what was the 

 craft of the future to be? 



How easily are some questions asked, how hard it is to answer 

 them. To one who loves canoeing and is thinking of a new boat 

 there can be no more absorbing question than the one the friends 

 propounded. 



Sabrina in the northwest of England, Muriel in the east and 

 Gipsy in the Midlands were night after night stolidly working out 

 the problem, each in his old arm chair blinking at the tire and 

 pulling at the briar, whde canoe after canoe pictured itself to the 

 mind's eye only to be wrecked by i he thought that one would not 



turn to \ 

 In the 



ldward, while another would be wet iu a lop ,aad so on. ! 

 ddst of their deliberation came the Liverpool Exhibi- ' 

 Bond showed the "David Hatch fie," a canoe 14ft. by ; 

 fitted with a tOfa center board (arranged to lift out for 

 igged with main and mizen and propelled (when not 1 

 ills instead of the paddle. In this craft we saw tl 



_olutiop of our difficulty and forwith visions of glorious trips in 

 more open waters floated before our minds; while on many a 

 long winter's evening jolly sails were conjured up in which the 

 new craft with the old skippers at t he helm were the central fig- 

 ures, and out of the failures of the past were fashioned the fan- 

 cied triumphs of the future in a way which, while it is impossible 

 to the tyro (be his bump of imagination ever so developed), is hap- 

 pily open to that experienced dreamer 



whose heart has tried 

 And danced in triumph o'er the waters wide. 



So passed in bright anticipation the dreary winter ou till at 

 last welcome spring '"breathed promise of merry sunshine." 



A long confab with Bond, the Mersey Cauoe Ciub builder who 

 carries on business at Birkenhead, and the Sabrina 1 4ft. by 3ft. 2in. 

 was put on the stocks, followed by the Muriel 15ft. Oiu. by oft Bin., 

 and afterward by the Gipsy 14ft. Win by 31%in. 



A short experience ou home, waters iu a trial trip proved that 

 the deck position was not only the most comfortable but gavethe 

 greati r feeling of security, and that sleeping onboard was prefer- 

 able to camping on terra Anna. This was a new departure in 

 canoeing with a vengeance to men who bad in days gone by firmly 

 believed in the narrow craft of 20in. with its primitive rig— aye 

 and prepared to maintain their belief with arguments then 

 deemed unanswerable. What is Darwin's theory of evolution to 

 this? Well! leaving things no fellow is expected to understand, 

 lei us turn to the time when brief experience shall be followed by 

 lengthened practice. The time for this soon came. The Royal 

 Canoe Club having issued invitations for a great meet of English 

 canoeists on the Norfolk Broads, to those Broads and to that 

 meeting we decided to go with the avowed intention of subse- 

 quently sailing our ships round to the London River. 



Gipsy, held a prisoner by business engagements, was a late ar- 

 rival, and his old messmates returning from the mam body to 

 meet him, the trio were unfortunately out of a good deal of the 

 fun; still they managed to enjoy themselves where 



"Broad water lilies lay tremulously." 

 But we spare our readers a lengthy description, inasmuch as the 

 London field had full accounts, suffice it to say we had oppor- 

 tunitv of ascertaining that the uow boats were quicker in stays, 

 and altogether handier in every way than we had anticipated. 



All too soon the official cruise was over, aud balding farewell to 

 their jovial companions, Sabrina and Muriel early in the morning 

 of the 14th of August locked out at Oulton "ou oceanji foam to 

 sail." Oulton Dyke was so snug an anchorage that thff two bad 

 1 no idea what a gaino of romp the weather had been having out- 



side while they slept, but the sight of the big rollers dashing 

 against Lowestoft Pier head quickly enlightened them. The wind 

 (N. by W.) was light, however, and the general appearance of the 

 day seemed to promise fair weather. The breeze might with ad- 

 vantage have had more weight in it, for the ebb being strong 

 against them slow progress was made until they carried the flood 

 past Covehithc Ness, but at this point, whistle as they might, the 

 fickle wind died away altogether. Steadily were the new oar* 

 plied over the roiling swell under a burning sun— opportunity 

 being thus afforded to contrast this With the old paddle mode of 

 progress— until Southwold was placed astern, and then a sudden 

 but w elcome puff came from the N.E., which, freshening, enabled 

 them to bowl merrily along till Ortordness was on their lee. But 

 who can depend on the wind? Talk of the fickleness of women — 

 why, such flcklenness is constancy itself to the ever-changing 

 moods of that, god or goddess (we know not which) who presides 

 over the stables in which Boreas and Company (query. Limited?) 

 like cert ain sublunary steeds, are apparent ly kept ready harnessed 

 to go anywhere and do anything at a moment's notice. 



Suddenly the breeze took a turn round from N. E. to S. E., but 

 with the change all its power had departed as if it was too blown 

 in crossing over to get up a bigger head of steam. However, it's 

 an ill wind that blows nobody auy good, and the Iriends found 

 that with the heavy swell gone down the passage to Ort ord Haven 

 which they ran info for a night's berth w as all the pleasanter. 

 Father Neptune, as if loth to say Goodbye, did not let them out 

 of his clutches without a parting salute on the bar just as a re- 

 minder, you know! 



Next morning, wh°u Sabrina and Muriel stood out to sea. there 

 was hardly a cloud in the sky, while the wind was S. W. and 

 chilly. After a few puffs it gradually dropped away; but just as 

 the skippers decided upon hoisting "wooden topsails" it altered 

 its mind and came from the S. E., making it a long and short leg 

 to Harwich. The mouth of the Woodbridge river was given a 

 wide berth because of huge beds of shingle which obstructed it 

 and because of a strong ebb-tide race to cross if an inshore pas- 

 sage w r as taken. 



At Harwich they were joined by Gipsy who had trained: and, 

 once more united, the little fleet romped along together. There 

 was a fair wind and a glorious afternoon to explore the river Os- 

 well, that "sw eetly pretty 1 ' stream, as the fair sex would say, and 

 with everv stitch of canvas set we enjoyed our sail immensely — 

 three jollier fellows it would have been difficult to find. The vil- 

 lage of Pin Mill came abee.m sooner than expected and hearing 

 that oil here was a good anchorage for small craft w r e dropped 

 our mud books overboard. Tents up, the three boats were tem- 

 porarily fast side by side and the appetizing sound of a beefsteak 

 trying in the pan, with the fragrant smell of coffee, showed that 

 the steward was doing his duty. 



A calm night succeeded a peaceful evening and when darkness 

 shut the land from our view the riding lights of the different 

 craft, at anchor gave a feeling of companionship, while the shore 

 sounds rendered musical by their passage over the water with the 

 rhythmical lap of the tide against our boats, made a pleasant 

 lullaby — who could not sleep under such circumstances? 



'Tis an old maxim in the schools 

 That flattery's the food of fools, 

 but for all that we felt bigger men when the Coast Guard made 

 their round to see if riding lights were duly carried and to inquire 

 where we hailed from, even though we were awakened from our 

 "beauty sleep" to answer. 



Tuesday, Aug. 1G.—A cold N.E. wind made up while breakfast 

 was being discussed, and, the holding being bad, kedges dragged 

 UUtfl the best bower was hove overboard. A council of war, 

 whether with a foul wind and probably a sea we should go out- 

 side, or whether a further exploration of the Orwell would not he 

 better, decided upon the latter course. A very enjoyable run to 

 Ipswich and a beat back to Harwich was our morning's work. 

 By the way, opportunities offer themselves during cruises such as 

 the one we are recounting, to notice not only the peculiarity of 

 the landscape aud the manners of the natives, but also to read the 

 past history of a district by the names or rather endings of the 

 names of its villages. In Ipswich and Harwich we have the 

 Anglo-Saxon tpfc and the Norse ti7.\ which meant a village in the 

 former and a bay or creek in the latter tongue. 



But to proceed, the sharp little waves which swabbed the decks, 

 and the fresh air gave us something else to think about than 

 etymological derivations, and that w^as when lunch would be 

 ready, for the appetites built up when cruising are something 

 wonderful. Some boatmen at Harwich sententiously gave us the 

 bearings of "a seluded spot" for the night's berth, which turned 

 out to be Holbrook Creek, some distance up the Stour, and 

 quickly the brisk breeze and flood tide bore us there; Sabrina, 

 aided by a spinakcr, leaving his friends astern. Mention has been 

 made Of late relative to the speed of a sailing canoe, and this alone 

 induces us to quote from our log book I bat: the seven miles, from 

 Harwich Pier to Holbrook Creek, with a steady following w ind 

 (we could easily have done with more) aud on t he flood tide, was 

 covered in three-quarters of an hour. 



Holbrook Creek boasts of a hard, an oasis amid wide stretching 

 mud flats, and ashore we went for a ramble, only too delighted to 

 stretch our limbs after their confined quarters for the past forty- 

 eight hours. 



It was a graud evening and what with a glorious sunset and 

 "the beauty born of murmuring sound" which came from the 

 tide, doubly restless with its phosphorescent lights, our little 

 creek proved a most enjoyable spot indeed, and "seluded" to 

 boot. 



The east wind in the morning being light and tho weather look- 

 ing more settled, the idea of going further up the Stour was 

 abandoned and we beat back to Harwich instead and then out to 

 sea on the ebb, once more bound south. 



We can hardly leave Harwich without recommending it aud 

 its two rivers as a first-class canoeing center, indeed, we think it 

 would be hard to find a more suitable one, for the rivers make 

 grand sailing water in rough weather, while outside the coast 

 is indented with numerous rivers and creeks all worth ex- 

 ploring. 



A reference to the chart will show that with a S.E. wind we 

 were just able to lay a course for the Naze, but when there a few 

 short' hoards were needed to round it; which done, it was close- 

 hauled work down the coast, until as the land trended away to the 

 west'ard we freed our wind and made good way for Colne Point. 

 The wind fell lighter and lighter, but still wo crept on with a 

 draught of air that would not have moved our old boats a single 

 yard, and while passing Clacton t he steward served out af ter- 

 noon tea which, to quote a very well worn sentence, "cheered but 

 inebriated not." 



Heavy clouds now massed themselves to the south'axd, herald- 

 ing a storm and hastening the hours of darkness. Suddenly a 

 breeze from the N.W. pined up as we rounded the Point, so sheets 

 had to be hauled in for St. Osyth's Creek, our destined anchorage. 

 Here indue course we arrived, our approach having been for 

 some time heralded by a salute of Heaven's artillery, the big 

 guns bring manned for the occasion, fortunately we escaped with 

 but little wind and no rain. 



When the rain comes before the wind, 

 Topsail halliards you must mind; 

 But when the wind before the rain, 

 Soon you may make sail again. 

 With what light left we examined our creek which seemed 



re meal was eujoyed 

 shed together mean- 

 eut viands from "the 

 it swung to its own 

 laukets— but w r e were 

 ), taking one farewell 

 "ling light drifting 



ipsy 



snug and, tents being erected, a _ 

 while many a joke went round (the 1 

 while). By the bye, the passing of tl 

 cuddy" afforded grand fun; then t 

 cable* aud her skipper rolled himself 

 not to sleep just yet. Sabrina, (cautii 

 look around, was horrified to see 



awav into the impenetrable darkness, the apparently unknown, 

 then* there was great excitement until ihe wanderer was brought 

 back and his further vagaries restrained by a pig of lead being 

 added to his anchor. 



Hiursilay, Auq. IS.— At high water our creek was only separated 

 from the sea to the westward by a narrow belt of shingle, and 

 advantage was taken of this to have an invigorating tub in tho 

 surf. Breakfast and the morning pipe over we got underway for 

 Brightlinsea. hut Brightlinsea saw us not. How often in sailing 

 small craft may an old moral be altered to the following tune: 

 "The skipper proposes, but the wind disposes." The cause of 

 our change of plans, or rather of the changing of our plans (a 

 distinction with a difference, good reader, which your logical 

 mind will readily grasp) came about in this prosaic fashion. Im- 

 primis, as our ancestors would say, the wind, W. by N., made it 

 a dead beat up to Brightlinsea. aud then, while leaving the creek, 

 we were struck by a heavy rain squall, and to complete our dis- 

 comfiture, for verily it never rains but it pours, you know, the 

 ebb was strong against us. Not being anxious to (falsely) prove 

 our strength of will, a term not unfrequently confounded with 

 pigheaded stubbornness, which is really a sign of weak will, we 

 philosophically bore away for Foulness instead. When Sales 

 Point was abeam, the sky to windward banked up black and 

 ominous and there was every appearance of dirty weather, in 

 seamas's parlance "it looked very saucy." At last crash came 

 the thunder, and we had the full benefit of a squall. "Tnere is 

 beauty In the bellow of the blast," sang tho lovely Katisha, and 

 to a certain extent Ave agree wit.h this elderly virgin; but one may 



