A rudder hung outside by the
stern.
With all this gear, although snugly stowed, a boat looked so
loaded that I could not help wondering how six men would be able
to work in her; but like most "deep-water" sailors, I knew very
little about boating. I was going to learn.
All this work and bustle of preparation was so rapidly carried
on, and so interesting, that before supper-time everything was
in readiness to commence operations, the time having gone so
swiftly that I could hardly believe the bell when it sounded
four times, six o'clock.
*
CHAPTER III
FISHING BEGINS
During all the bustle of warlike preparation that had been going
on, the greenhorns had not suffered from inattention on the part
of those appointed to look after them. Happily for them, the
wind blew steadily, and the weather, thanks to the balmy
influence of the Gulf Stream, was quite mild and genial. The
ship was undoubtedly lively, as all good sea-boats are, but her
motions were by no means so detestable to a sea-sick man as those
of a driving steamer. So, in spite of their treatment, perhaps
because of it, some of the poor fellows were beginning to take
hold of things "man-fashion," although of course sea legs they
had none, their getting about being indeed a pilgrimage of pain.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49