Sea
work. Thus the summer of 1897 was spent in Iceland as above described,
and some of the winter in the North Sea. The spring, summer, and part
of the fall of 1898 were occupied by the long Irish trip, which
established work among the spring herring and mackerel men from
Crookhaven.

On leaving England for one of these North Sea trips I was delayed and
missed the hospital ship, so that later I was obliged to transfer to
her on the high seas from the little cutter which had kindly carried
me out to the fishing grounds. Friends had been good enough to give me
several little delicacies on my departure, and I had, moreover, some
especially cherished personal possessions which I desired to have with
me on the voyage. These choice treasures consisted of some eggs, a
kayak, a kodak, a chronometer, and a leg of mutton! After I was safely
aboard the Mission hospital ship I found to my chagrin that in my
anxiety to transfer the eggs, the kayak, the kodak, the chronometer,
and especially the leg of mutton to the Albert, I had forgotten my
personal clothing. I appreciated the fact that a soaking meant a
serious matter, as I had to stay in bed till my things, which were
drenched during my passage in the small boat, were dry again.

It was on this same voyage that a man, badly damaged, sent off for a
doctor. It was a dirty dark morning, "thick o' rain," and a nasty sea
was running, but we were really glad of a chance of doing anything to
relieve the monotony. So we booted and oil-skinned, sou'-westered and
life-jacketed, till we looked like Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and felt
much as I expect a German student does when he is bandaged and padded
till he can hardly move, preparatory to his first duel. The boat was
launched and eagerly announcing the fact by banging loudly and
persistently on the Albert's side. Our two lads, Topsy and Sam, were
soon in the boat, adopting the usual North Sea recipe for transit: (1)
Lie on the rail full length so as not to get your legs and hands
jammed. (2) Wait till the boat bounces in somewhere below you. (3) Let
go! It is not such a painful process as one might imagine, especially
when one is be-padded as we were. The stretcher was now handed in, and
a bag of splints and bandages. "All gone!" shouted simultaneously the
mate and crew, who had risked a shower bath on deck to see us off; and
after a vicious little crack from the Albert's quarter as we dropped
astern, we found ourselves rushing away be