SATURDAY NIGHTS AT SEA 



when the ship was rolling heavily required skill and ex- 

 perience. The meal was generally accompanied by the 

 spurting of seawater through the wardroom door, or 

 through cracks in the skylight, and the water washed 

 to and fro unheeded until the meal was ended, and the 

 indefatigable Ansell turned his attention to it. It was 

 in the wardroom that I salved a small wooden case from 

 the water, and found that it contained a patent mixture 

 for extinguishing fires. The rooms of the ship's officers, 

 opening out of the wardroom, were in a similar state of 

 dampness, and when an officer finished his watch and 

 turned in for a well-earned sleep, he merely substituted 

 for clothes that were soaked through, others which were 

 a little less wet. 



The water, however, did not damp the spirits of those 

 on board, for nearly every night extemporary concerts 

 were held, and laughter and mirth filled the little ward- 

 room. It is usual on Saturday nights at sea to drink 

 the toasts, " Absent Friends," and " Sweethearts and 

 Wives." I was generally at this time in the after 

 cabin or on the bridge, and if, as sometimes happened, 

 I had forgotten that particular day, a gentle hint was 

 conveyed to me by Wild or Dunlop starting a popular 

 song, entitled " Sweethearts and Wives," the chorus of 

 which was heartily rendered by all hands. This hint used 

 to bring my neglect to my mind, and I would procure 

 the necessary bottle. 



On January 10 we had a clear sky during the morn- 

 ing until about ten o'clock, and then, with a westerly 

 wind, the breeze became heavier, and rain commenced. 

 Most of us that day, taking advantage of the compara- 

 tive steadiness of the ship, managed to wash our salt- 

 encrusted faces and hair; we had become practically 

 pickled during the past week. About midnight we had a 

 light wind from the north-north-east, and the most con- 



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