Day 341. Flying fish and salt horse: a seafaring tale
6th July 1860:
Friday 6th. 8 AM Set F. Jib. The wind still continues in the same quarter that is N or NE and from that to N.W our course being about N.N.E or N.E it is dead ahead. It has been in this quarter so long that we begin to get down hearted. We are still in company with the Kensington, which cheers us a little her being a deal more of a Clipper than us.
It is strange, but it is the case with people in general that when they are in difficulty it cheers them to see a Neighbour in the same position, and so it is with us in regard to the Kensington.
I am happy to state that my leg is nearly well again and I am going to turn to again after dinner, it being my watch on deck. I have had plenty of sleep this week, turning in at 8 PM and out again at 8 AM, and sometimes a nap after dinner besides. this is what I call plenty of sleep. A sailor consideres it the greatest luxury he can have, sleep, and something good to eat, or skoff, as they call it, is all a sailor thinks about, for while he is eating one meal he is thinking what he shall have for the next.
The weather is much more settled this morning. 10 AM Set M.T.G Sails. The wind having blown its lungs out. It continued pretty steady until
4 PM when the clouds began to gather and look very wild and stormy again when we single reefed the Topsails, stowed the MTG Sails, Flying Jib and Staysails. 6 PM Tacked ship she having broke off 2 or 3 points, heading on this tack ENE which is 3 points off her proper course it being E by N. The wind still increasing, we had just got nice and snug in bed when we heard the unwelcome sound of All hands reef Topsails. it was hard to leave a warm bed, but I am getting pretty well used to storms, and there being no avoiding it out I rolls. It was a fine dry night, the moon and stars shining pretty bright, but the wind was blowing a regular gale and still slap in our teeth. We double reefed the Topsails, stowed Crossjack, Mainsail, Jib and Spanker, and set Main Staysail when the Capt called out that will do the watch below, when away we went below, had a smoke as usual, before turning in and then turned in again. however we have hardly got to sleep before it was All Larbourlovies a hoy, rouse up there, do you hear the news, eight bells, which called our watch on deck and the other one went below. However I don’t go aloft yet my leg being rather tender yet, all I do, is slink about the decks having a yarn with first one and then another. I was in the Galley the other night, the watch being there, 3 or so of them were pesting a chap called Bill Leighton about his sweetheart selling apples and having red hair, and to add to her beauty she had all her front teeth out, and a lame leg, well says one of them, I couldn’t have a lame one anyhow. No says Bill (quite serious) I shouldn’t like one myself, I’m blowed if I would, I’d be frightened of her turning me into a Cat or a Monkey or some other jumping devil. the fit of Laughter which followed this strange
Remark of Bill’s is beyond all comprehension but he very coolly told them when they were calmed down, that he wouldn’t like to go with a girl that was not sound wind, and limb, excepting he was drunk, then he’d go with the devil fast enough, for says he when a chap gets on shore the first thing he knows he knows nothing and the next thing he knows still less. So much for superstition.
The Kensington out of sight on the other Tack. Lat. Long.