100 
IN FORBIDDEN SEAS 
landed on February 22, and their vessel left for 
Shikotan with only two hands on board. 
On April 26 we heard that some foreigners had 
been found living ashore at the north-east end of the 
island, and that they were being brought down to 
Furebetsu. The following day the skipper and I 
went over to Onebetsu, and on reaching the bluff 
overlooking the bay we were gladdened by the sight 
of a schooner becalmed outside, but evidently bound 
into the bay. She proved to be the Fanny of San 
Francisco. From the people on board I got all the 
later news, and, what was more substantial, a good 
square meal, a thing I had not enjoyed for many 
weeks. The hot coffee, hot rolls, excellent butter, 
corned beef, pork and beans, soup, fresh fish, pie— 
good American pie !—were all delicious. I told our 
story, and the captain offered to make room for our 
mate if he cared to ship with him. 
The next morning the skipper and I went on 
board, and remained until evening. Coming back, 
only the two of us, T. and myself, were in the boat, 
and T. had accepted the hospitality of the Fanny 
to such an extent that he was in one of his talkative 
moods, and not over-steady on his legs. As a high 
swell was setting in, we had to get through two or 
three lines of breakers, which extended out about 
150 yards on a shoal. The bottom being wavy, the 
sea broke on the shoals, which were wide apart, and, 
in order to negotiate them without being capsized, 
it was necessary to be very careful and keep the 
boat 64 end on.” I suggested that one of us should 
face the stern, the better to see when the swell was 
coming, and 44 back ” or 44 pull ” as was required ; 
but before this could be put in practice an extra 
