on. One of these was a beautiful little anchor
made of bronze, and in form very peculiar and apparently an improvement,
indeed an admirable novelty to look at. This, too, I heaved overboard
for trial, but it simply dragged through the soft mud, and proved quite
useless.

{240} He had wisely fitted a centre-board in his 14-feet canoe at my
suggestion. This sliding keel answered well for sailing, and all our
large canoes are now thus fitted. Mr. Berthons' portable canoe can be
carried flat under one arm. Canoe sails are dangerous unless they can be
lowered in an instant. So are the sails of a frigate in a sudden squall.
The 'Eurydice,' which I saw in Portsmouth harbour, is a warning for ever.

{242} To anchor for the night, riding by tide or stream, is not
pleasant; for then the wind may cross your hatch, and blow the rain in
sideways, whereas if you ride at anchor to the wind alone, the draught
comes always from the front, and so it can be better provided for, and
the boat does not roll much even if she pitches.

{244} Revelation xix. 7.

{246} It was hung on the port mizen shroud. To hang it in front of you
is simply to cut off two of your three chances of possibly seeing ahead.

{250} I think that in a port like Newhaven the look-out man in charge
ought to come to the pier-head when he sees a yacht entering in rough
weather, and certainly there is more attention to such matters in France
than with us.

{260} The singular volcanic eruptions in Iceland occurred also on that
day.

{261} The numerous vessels met now were some of those we had been with
in the morning, and they looked even more in number, for we crossed and
recrossed each other frequently, and this part of the Channel is a
highway for nations.

{267} In the winter this old sailor was drowned, the last of six
brothers, all of whom were drowned.

{268} This event is depicted on the cover of our book, being a copy of
the illustration in the excellent penny periodical, 'The Boy's Own Paper'
(October, 1879), one of a score of serials and a thousand books at the
'Pure Literature Society,' 11, Buckingham Street, Strand.

{270} One of the pranks to be prepared for in a boat is this jibing of
the boom, and until by practice you know the exact range of safety for
your head in relation to that swinging spar, caution should be the rule.
Long ago I had learned the exact length of the Rob Roy's boom in relation
to my nose; for even in the Tha