76 
THE LITTLE COOPER. 
in wbicli oui' work was laid out, or to those "who assisted 
him in its execution. 
During these four months we met with various adven- 
tures; some amusing, some exciting, others that were 
full of peril to life and limb. Let me again open my 
journal : — 
“ Jan. 14, 1854. — Yesterday morning, the schooner 
ran under our stern, and hailed us to the effect that 
Commander Eodgei-s had ordered an officer and boat to 
be detached from the Kennedy, to assist in their part of 
the work. There was some hesitation at first as to who 
the officer should be; but, as I had, unfortunately, once 
expressed myself in favour of small vessels, I was finally 
sent. I had a boat and six men placed under me, and 
was ordered to report myself to Captain Stevens, the 
worthy officer in charge of the schooner. The latter 
being too small to stow either my boat or the crew, the 
former is towed astern at night, while the latter find 
beds about the spar-deck as best they can. This is all 
very pleasant as long as fair weather lasts; but when 
men have been working hard for fourteen hours they 
don’t fancy sleeping in the rain during the remaining 
ten. Stevens, myself, and Baber, the master, are the 
only occupants of the cabin; and there are twenty 
men on the berth-deck, and six about the upper — in 
spots. So much for our little schooner and her 
hardy crew. May she steer clear of pirates and heavy 
seas!” 
We have been hard at work for some weeks, are run- 
ning short of wood and watei', and find it necessary to go 
somewhere to obtain supplies : — 
