CHAPTER XI 
AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE 
On April 10,1887, the Nemo sailed again for the Kurils. 
We had a splendid run up, the wind being fair and 
strong the whole time. It was too strong on the third 
day out, blowing a heavy gale with very high seas 
from right aft, one of which pooped us, washed the 
man at the wheel right over the poop on to the main- 
deck, badly damaged one boat, smashed the cabin 
skylight, and deluged the cabin with water up to 
our knees. The sea took the vessel so squarely on 
the stern that she was driven straight ahead, giving 
us time to get control of the wheel again before she 
broached to. The sea broke on board because our 
way was partly stopped by a momentary lull in the 
wind whilst we were in the hollow between two long, 
enormous seas ; this enabled the following sea to 
catch us up just as it broke. 
Shaking out a reef, we kept on our course. The 
same fair wind lasted right up to the north-east end 
of Urup, where we anchored for a short time and put 
out our boats, but saw no otters. Getting under 
way once more, we stood on to Ushishir, where we 
anchored and got our first otter. Next morning we 
ran over to Rashau, where we killed four more ; then 
off again to the north-east, arriving off the coast of 
Kamchatka amongst large icefields, which the con- 
218 
