IBB 
I^OREST AND STREAM. 
Through the Sound in an Oyster Sloop. 
(Concluiied from page. 13o). 
We passed well to the north of Bartlett's Reef Light 
Vessel at 6 bells. Although we knew the water to be very 
shoal on the reef, in places, j^et we took our chances of 
striking bottom, but got through all . right. 
While we were off Niantic Bay, the wind hauled still 
further to the north and came down on us in shrieks. 
The only attention we paid to it was to start sheet a 
trifle and head truer to our course. We thanked our 
stars, though, that it was not west or southwest instead 
of off the land. As it was, we received a dusting th^it 
drenched us to the skin. 
We Avere half way across the entrance to Niantic Bay, 
when we heard the rumble of heavy ordnance. A few 
seconds later, and four downy puffs, drifting against 
the azure heavens a mile away, showed where the shells 
h^d burst. The Connecticut National Guard was in camp 
at Niantic, and the soldiers were drilling with the mor- 
tars. Again and again fluffy puffs of smoke from burst- 
ing shells drifted away in the distance, and the heavy 
rumble of the mortars sounded like an advancing thun- 
derstorm. We watched the firing for some time. I won- 
dered how the boys of Company D, Second Regiment, 
of which I was once a member, were enjoying them- 
selves. 
. It was 5 o'clock when we passed to the north of the 
black buoy which marks Hatchett's Reef. The wind 
was still blowing very hard, and we were certainly meet- 
ing more sea than we had seen that day. The cause of 
this was a heavy swell which rolled out of the southwest 
against the wind. It showed that the wind had been 
blowing heavily in the Sound from s(3uthwest all day. 
Possibly it had been kicked up by the thunder squall 
we noticed that morning which passed out to sea off 
Montauk Point. 
Off the mouth of the Connecticut the water was alive 
with immense schools of menhaden. Half a dozen men- 
, haden steamers were making great hauls of fish. We 
passed close to a vessel which lay alongside a large seine, 
and every time she dipped her scoop-net into the seine 
it would come out loaded to the brim with squirming 
fish. As they were dumped into the vessel's hold they 
glittered in the rays of the sun like a shower of gems. 
We were in the midst of an extra large school of the 
fish, when a sea serpent poked its slimy head above 
the waves. As it made toward Susie with wide-open 
jaws its forked tongue shot in and out its mouth in a 
frightful manner. We, however, were cool and not 
afraid in the least, for the serpent measured only 18 or 
2oin. He was a common, everydaj- little water snake, 
and he must have felt very frightened and lonesome 
away off there, for he was fully two miles from land. 
"If it wasn't for 1;he delay I'd pick the little devil un," 
said Sam, who has always manifested an affection lor 
the snake family that I can't understand. 
Cornfield Point bore over a mile northwest when the 
sun sank in a blaze of glory. The wind died completely 
with the sun, and we were left rolling on the short, nasty 
swell. The roar of the surf on Guard House Point was 
the loudest we had heard, barring Napeague Beach. 
Gradually the soft afterglow in the western heavens dark- 
ened into night. The stars stole forth one by one, and 
the lighthouses began to twinkle. As Stanlej^ set the 
port and starboard lights a breeze, faint at first, but grad- 
ually increasing in strength, came out of the north. 
Then Susie commenced to plow on her way again. 'Tt's 
one of those night winds," said Sam, quietly. "And 
it'll probably hold steady until we reach New Haven." 
Although Susie went swinging over the dark surges at 
a good clip, yet it seemed we would never put Cornfield 
Point Light Vessel over the stern. We could easily 
tell by the lights ashore that we were passing the la'nd 
rapidly, but the twinkling eyes of the light vessel hung 
tenaciously on our sight, over the port quarter. It was 
a great relief to us when the white, flashing orb on 
Faulkner's Island could be seen lifting and dipping on the 
dusky sea-line far down in the west. 
After a hot cup of tea and a hastily snatched supper 
of pilot biscuit, cold beans and canned apricots, I 
slipped an old overcoat over my sweater and took a 
seat just forward of the mast, in the bows of the sloop. 
I was determined to keep a vigilant watch ahead. Bub 
and Stanley turned in. Sam held the tiller. Have you, 
gentle reader, ever reclined in the bows of a small boat 
when the breeze was strong and the darkness of night 
about you? The incidents of that night's vigil formed a 
memory-picture which the combined skill of the world's 
greatest artists could not reproduce on canvas. Neither 
could the pen of any writer, however eloquent he_ might 
be, describe that picture as it was; therefore, with my 
poor pen, I can give but a rough idea at the best. The 
steady breeze inclined Susie's deck at an angle that just 
pressed her lee rail to the dark water's edge. The green 
rays of the starboard light mingled a faint emerald tint 
with the delicate red bars that fell on the deck from 
the port light, forward of the mast. So soft was this 
intermingling of colors that it threw a strange,, mellow 
radiance about the foot of the swelling jib, halyards, 
chain cables and windlass, causing them to appear phan- 
tom-like and unreal. The dusky surges, advancing in 
monotonous regularity out of the darkness, seemed like 
shadowy, restless beings of the solemn sea. The steady 
s-wash. s-wash under Susie's inclining bows mingled a 
mysterious chant with the vesper-like hum of the night 
wind whispering through the rigging. As our little 
craft swept rhythmically onward, the parted seas gleamed 
ghostly on either side of the cutwater for a moment, then 
vanished in the darkness. Lights twinkled along the 
dark shore-line, and I saw a small lighted balloon ascend 
skyward from some shore resort. Then the northern 
lights sent nervous, transparent feelers to the very zenith 
of the spangled heavens, and the stars shone ghostly 
through the pale streamers of light. Suddenly, from 
far down in the southwest, a narrow, phosphorescent 
ribbon of light shot from the surface of the water and 
penetrated the uttermost limits of the heavens. It danced 
crazily up and down, up and down, then shot this way, 
then that. "What in heaven's name can that be?" I mur- 
mured, rubbing my sleepy eyes with my knuckles. "It's 
the searchlight of one of the large Sound steamers," 
said a voice so low as to seem but an answering echo 
to my murmur. I had been away from the water so 
long that this was the first time I had ever seen one in 
operation. 
It was II o'clock before Faulkner's Island Light was 
abeam. The wind, which had held so steady, now died 
Ixi a mere whisper, and Susie made but little progress. 
Searchlight rays crossed and recrossed the heavens, 
and searched the waters far and near, as the fleet 
of Sound steamers approached. They passed us about 
7 bells, and the flash and glitter of their hundreds 
of different colored lights formed a sight of dazzling 
brillianc3^ 
. "There's a big fire somewhere ashore, astern." It was 
Sam's voice, and he had spoken for the second time 
since 1 took my station forward. 
"Where is the fire? I don't see anything but the 
moon rising." 
"Well, I'll be hanged if I didn't think itT?fas a fire." 
"Who says fire?" asked Stanley, poking his head out 
of the companionway. "You'd better go below and 
turn in. You've been at the tiller steady for more than 
ten hours." 
Sam kicked at first, but when Stanley and I insisted 
that he turn in for awhile he finally yielded. He had a 
very hard cold, and was very hoarse. I'm sure he felt 
miserable. Stanley Avanted me to turn in, but Vith the 
exception of feeling so sleepy I could hardly keep my 
eyes open I felt prettj^ good, so decided to stay on watch 
until we shovild make New Haven. 
The wind held light for over an hour, then it came 
good and strong out of the north again. A silvery cres- 
cent hung suspended in the dark heavens, and looked 
more like a photograph of the original than like the 
moon itself. Excepting Avhere its wake^ faintly silvered 
the dark waves, it apparently cast no light at all. So 
deep was the dark appearance of the firmament that the 
stars, too, seemed brilliant gems hung in a sable dome. 
It seemed we never would make Southwest Ledge 
Light; yet at times I would start up and strain my 
eyes in the direction of the breakAvater, for we would 
seem on the point of running on top of it. Then I 
would find that droAvsiness had caused the illusion, and 
that I had nearly fallen asleep on watch. Finally, how- 
ever, the Hght appeared to grow and groAv in size and 
to lift higher and higher. Then, Avhen it appeared we 
were rusliing Avith breathless speed into^the maAv of a 
huge, dim monster that looked' doAvn upon us with a 
single, glaring eye of Avhite, Susie rushed by the end 
of the breakwater and stood oft' on the port tack into the 
harbor. 
HoAV I managed to keep aAvake until we came to 
anchor off the end of Long Wharf I do not knoAV. I 
haA'e a dim recollection of seeing Sam on deck, and of 
hearing the rattle of chain cable and halyard blocks. 
Then some one said: "There's the morning star, over 
Fort Hale, and it's just 3 o'clock." The next thing I 
knew I awoke and found the sun flooding the cabin 
doAvn the companionAvay. It was 9 o'clock, and I Avas 
already dressed, for I had turned in "all standing." 
As our outing Avas near an end Bub decided to leaA'e 
us; so about noon I roAved him and his belongings 
over to the Avharf. We AA^atched him trudging up the 
long Avharf Avith a valise half as large as himself until 
he disappeared from view. 
About I P. M. Ave got our anchor and started down 
the harbor. The wind Avas south and very light, but the 
tide favored us to the motxth of the harbor; then, of 
course, Ave had to sail against it. 
The afternoon Avas bright and balmj^, and the green 
shore-line, covered Avith summer cottages, ncA-er looked 
more beautiful. The bosom of the Sound shimmered 
under the mellow rays of sunlight. While there Avas 
not Aveight enough in the wind to send us along at any 
speed, yet it blcAV just strong enough to make it a 
delight to loaf about the deck. It Avas 5 bells before 
Ave passed Southwest Ledge, and 7 bells by the time 
Ave reached Charles Island. We had nearly OA^erhauled 
a large three-masted schooner that Avas having a dubious 
time of it poking against the tide in the light air. When 
we left our anchorage she Avas fully two miles ahead of 
us. Half a mile to AvindAvard a large sloop yacht ap- 
peared to be haA'ing much more Avind than the schooner 
or Susie. She heeled more and more, and we con- 
gratulated ourselves on the prospect of getting a good 
breeze. Presently her crew Avas compelled to shorten 
sail, and she had hardly taken in her topsail and jib- 
topsail Avhen the schooner got it. 
"We'll have a dusty time of it, inside half an hour," 
said Sam. "Just see the old three-master noAv! She's 
sailing light, and I'll bet her topsails '11 come doAvn 
before long." He spoke truly, for before the Avind 
reached us the schooner rolled down at such an angle 
that her crcAV commenced to shorten sail. She Avas a 
quarter of a mile to AviiidAvard of us Avhen Ave got the 
Avind. 
We hadn't made looyds. after the wind struck before 
Ave realized that it Avas a sure enough case of shorten 
sail. Hard, fierce and puffy came the Avind out of the 
southAvest. At first it flattened the sea; then steep, 
chunky, leaden Avaves arose, and the Avind caught brinv 
spray-patches from their crests and hurled them with 
.stinging force into our faces. With trip-hammer force 
Susie pounded incessantly into the advancing hillocks 
and smashed their crests into yeasty foam. SloAvly but 
surely she ate her Avay to windAvard of the three-master, 
and as Ave hung to the starboard tack for more than six 
miles we found, Avhen Ave went about, that Ave had beaten 
the schooner more than tAvo miles. We had also hauled 
up on the sloop yacht so fast that she Avas no more than 
a quarter of a mile ahead of us. She AA'^as a much larger 
craft than Susie. 
After sAvinging on to port tack aa'c found it even Avetter 
than on starboard. By hard pinching Ave just managed 
to head our course. As Avind, sea and tide Avere against 
us, Ave Avere glad to don old coats; and even they didn't 
save us from a drenching. 
The Middle Ground Light lined over Susie's port 
quarter at 6:30. By this time the Avind had hauled a 
trifle to the south, and we Avere enabled to lift a little 
sheet. "Look!" said Sam, suddenly. "See the man-o'- 
AA'ar! Over under the Long Island shore, there!" We 
looked to Avhere he pointed, and saAv a large, handsome, 
square-rigged steam A'essel Avell doAvn to the south of 
us. She Avas SAA^arming through the water at great 
speed. 
"That's no man-o'-war," said Stanley. "I've seen her 
before. She's Slater's yacht, of NorAvich. I tell you, 
she's a 'beaut,' too!" She certainly did make a beautiful 
appearance as she swept grandly .her way. All hands 
agreed that she Avould rnake a fine auxiliary cruiser in 
tinje of Avar. 
Penfield Reef Light bore east of north at 7 bells. 
Susie Avas "horsing" along at a good eight-knot clip. 
The sun had set bright enough, but witjaoi:t Avarmth; 
and there AA^as a hard look about him AA'hich plainly indi- 
cated Avind. The western sky Avas entirely devoid of 
those sunset colors so pleasing to the eye. The wind 
held hard and strong and Avas almost south. The sea 
still rolled up in leaden lutnps. Of course, the farther 
Avest Ave ran. the narroAver greAV the Sound; therefore 
the Avaves did not increase in size. 
Night settled doAvn as dark as a pocket. We could 
see the stars, it is true, and the gleams from the light- 
houses Avere plainly visible. They had a look about 
them, hoAvever, as they Avould had Ave seen them through 
a veil. The atmosphere seemed thick and heaA'y, and 
dusky blobs, with ill-defined edgefe, floating here and 
there in the dark heaA^ens, showed that the sky was not 
entirely cloudless. A look into the Avater over the stern 
revealed a trail of phosphorescent sparks, dancing and 
tumbling erratically aAvay into the darkness. Green and 
red, eye-like points peering out of the darkness here 
and there shoAved the course of numerous A^essels, and the 
Soimd steamer fleet made its presence knoAvn by sending 
ghostly searchlight rays across the ebony Avaves. 
"If this Avind holds an hour and a half longer, Ave'll 
be anchored in Indian Harbor, and the trip '11 be ended." 
Sam's Avords sent a pang of regret to my heart. The full 
significance of Avhat they meant struck Avith double force 
at that particular time, for then we Avere reveling in 
freedom. The full realization that this freedom would 
end Avith the dropping of the anchor, and that confine- 
ment and toil AA'ould begin, came like a sudden blow. 
Already I could hear the clank and pound of hammers, 
the Avhir, rush and grind of machinery; the squeaks 
and shrieks of slipping belts rang in my ears, and it 
almost seemed I could scent heated oil and steam pipes. 
I failed to realize at the time that such conditions are 
Avhat cause outings to be appreciated to their full value, 
and that to thoroughly enjoy freedom one must ex- 
perience confinement. 
Stamford Light gloAved like a living coal over our 
starboard quarter at 9:30. The wind still blcAV strong 
and steady, and a dash of rain came out of a black cloud 
that hovered overhead. Soon Greenwich Point Avas 
abeam, and as we Avere more than two miles off shore, 
more sheet Avas lifted and Susie fairly tore on her way 
through the inky seas. When we came up with the 
point a sharp lookout Avas kept for the light that burns 
on the gas buoy to the east of Little Captain's Island. 
\Ve failed to find it, hoAvever, but passed into the harbor 
Avithout incident. Soon the glowing lights of Com. Bene- 
dict's palace opened to vieAv, and it was just 10:30 P. M. 
AAdien Susie SAvept by the western end of TAveed's Island. 
Ten minutes later her anchor Avas doAvn, her sails snugly 
stOAA'ed, and the gallant little vessel that had carried us 
safely through a trip not entirely devoid of danger slept 
peacefully on the quiet Avaters of Indian Harbor. 
William H. Avis. 
Cabin Fittings in Small Cruisers* 
The subjects brought forward in the folIoAving letter 
have frequently been discussed in the Forest and 
Stream; the stoA-e question in particular, as concerns 
small yachts, single-handers, canoes and camping, Avas 
covered very thoroughly about a dozen years since. 
The information then giA'en by different yachtsmen, 
canoeists and campers is of course out of date by this 
time in the niatter of patented oil and vapor stoves; 
as very great improvements haA'e been made, especially 
in the invention of the "blue flame" kc-osene stove. 
AA^iich has replaced the old Avick stoves. In our issue of 
Aoril 10, 1897, in ansAver to an inquiry, a correspond- 
ent recommended a new stOA^e, the "oil gas," burning 
kerosene, and mentioned a promise of a still better one 
during the then coming summer. 
We will be very glad to receive any information pn 
either subject, cabin arrangement and fitting up, furnish- 
ing and stoves for small yachts. The majority of cruis- 
ing yachtsmen are directly and personally interested 
in both, and a discussion cannot fail to benefit them. 
Where space is as limited as in a 21 or 25-footer, its best 
possible utilization is a serious problem. 
Erie, Pa., Feb. 3. — Editor Forest and Stream: We have 
had a great many articles descriptive of the 21ft., 25ft. 
and knockabout classes lately, but the subject of arrange- 
ment of space in cabin, conA'enient and indispensable 
articles for outfit, and especially the type of stove best 
suited for them, has receiA^ed little notice. This is a sub- 
ject of great interest to many of your readers Avho OAvn 
or are building in those classes, and I am certain that 
an article throAving some light on it Avould find many ap- 
preciatiA'e readers. 
The kind of stove to use is a "burning" question to 
those of us Avho intend cruising in such craft, and one 
that I have not seen discussed in any. book or periodical 
devoted to yachting. F. W. Grant. 
Government Tests of Timber. 
It is surprising that in these days, Avhen the strength 
of all structural material is carefully determined, Ave 
should possess such imperfect knoAA'ledge of the strength 
of the A^arious woods which are used in construction 
and manufacture. There is lacking to-day a thoroughly 
reliable table of the strength of Avoods. We say this 
Avith the iull knoAvledge that all the text books and 
.engineers' and mechanics' pocket books giA'e such 
tables; but unfortunately the data upon Avhich they are 
founded' is not of that comprehensive or scientific kind 
Avhich alone can give such tables their proper value. 
Most of the investigations of the strength of timber 
already made have been carried out by individuals Avho 
had neither the time nor the means to do the Avork as 
thoroughly as it should be done. The first investigation 
of the subject on an adequate scale is now being carried 
out by Dr. B. E. FernoAV, of the Forestry DiAnsion 
of the Department of Agriculture. To examine and 
test a sufficient number of specimens of any given species 
is a costly undertaking; but the Department has shown 
good judgment in preferring to expend its appropria- 
