The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-02-19
HOW HE CAME TO MAKE A VOYAGE AROUND
THE WORLD AND WHAT HE SAW
PART 4.

nothing else was in view. She couldn'
stay with. We soon left her far asteri
and out of sight. In the meantime l wa:
hanging on to some of the howsprit rig.
Ging trying to catch honcta, quite Z
school OF these fish was playing around our
bow, hut they would rot take the hook
We had passed through the Indian
Ocean.
There was nothing going on on shipboard
hut the regular routine of work. setting IN
rigging, putting on chatting gear, trimming
sails and host of other things.
While off the coast of Africa great
maay Of what the boys called snal, feeders
came on hoard. They were very large,
about four Or five inches long.
We had killed sheep occasionally,
! probably all but one, which ] viii speak
about later. A fresh mess of this Kind is
something to think about.
We then tackled the pigs, which weighed
about 100 pounds Salt water on hogs
would make their eyes sore and have had
appearance generally, so much so that tie
mates refused to eat the pork. The old
man found this out and gave the steward
orders 10 have no more killed.
The idea of the ship entering port with
a hog pen on deck was a bitter pill for the
officers, bat they had to grin and bear it.
by this time we were getting in the
latitude Of the cape and l felt uneasy on
account Of its reputation
One morning we had tremendous sea.
The ship was rolling and laboring very
hard. The sIiysails had been slowed. The
officers gave orders to clue up royals, and
when he slipped down in the cabin the old
man soon put in an appearance.
The first thing was all hands on decl; TO
shorten sails.
thought we were going to catch it, but
it moderated and We went on cur way re-
joicing.
Our course in few days was changed to
northeast. When that occurred | knew
we had doubled the cape and were On the
home stretch. Not particle of land had
been in sight But to he seen was great
schools of p0rpose travelling to the east
ward. They would shoot UP ont of the
water on top Of wave and land twenty or
thirty feet in the top of sea. There was
= string OF them as far as the eye could
reach.
The weather was warm enough while we
were off thc cape to go barefooted This
/ was some time in February.
OF course we were working all the time
to the westward. Sc We gained in time
the day We lost crossing the Pacific some
where between the cape and the equator.
We had steady trade winds as far as the
equator, where we were caught in calm,
J which lasted two or three days. This is
almost as bad gale for the ship rolls so
heavy that the sails very often have to be
| clawed ny to keep them from being beaten
to pieces.
The sheep that we kept became the
mother Of four lambs. They had gained
strength and showed some disposition to
play. The old man came forward to look
at them. Without saying word he
grabbed two Of them by the legs and threw
them overheard. We were perfectly DUN
founded There vas feeling among the
men that they would like to serve him the
same way. He did right for there were
too many Of them.
We had reached the longitude where we
began to look for the North Star. The
first sight of it was along the horizon.
We reioiccd in that and the breeze we had
that was pushing US in rapid rate toward
New York. Each day the Wind would in
crease and we shortened sail accordingly
until VT were again under close reel tor
sails. Like all other storms this was the
worst 81 all
We were then about off Cape Hntteras,
in the month of March,
Snow squalls, blowing and roaring of
the wind through the rigging, each size
rope playing a different tune. ! thought
at one time that Davey Jones LoUkard
would get us all.
large ship hove in sight to the east
ward. There were times when we could
see nothing of her, then, again. her jib-
boom masts and hull would be in full view
then she would go down headsoremost out
nf sipht One wonld think that waa tb a
last Of her.
There was hardly day after we crossed
the equator but what we would see vessel
Of some kind.