ater aft and out over her taffrail--we descended to the
cabin to get our suppers, for which, by this time, we were quite ready.

So easy was the motion of the little craft, that when we got below we
found no difficulty whatever in boiling the water, and making ourselves
a cup of good strong tea. While discussing this refreshing beverage and
a few biscuits, we arrived at the conclusion that as we had done all it
was possible to do for the safety of the boat, it was useless to keep a
watch through the night, and that we would, therefore, take advantage of
the opportunity to get a good undisturbed night's rest, leaving the
"sweet little cherub that sits up aloft" to look out.

Accordingly, as soon as our meal was over, I left Bob to straighten up
below, while I went on deck to take a last look round and see that
everything was snug and as it should be, and our light burning brightly.

I found everything satisfactory, except that it seemed to be blowing
harder than ever; however, I could not help that, so I went below again,
closing the companion after me, and we both turned in, chatted awhile,
listened to the roaring of the gale and the occasional heavy wash of
water along the deck, and finally dropped off to sleep.

I awoke two or three times during the night, and once I turned out and
pushed the slide of the companion far enough back to put my head
outside; but the night was still as black as pitch, it was blowing
harder if anything than before, and the air was full of spindrift and
scud-water; so I pushed over the slide again, and tumbled once more into
my comfortable hammock, very vividly impressed both with a sense of our
helplessness in the midst of such a heavy gale, and also with the
comparative degrees of comfort between the decks and the cabin.

Bob was the first to make a muster in the morning; and his first act,
like mine during the night, was to take a look out upon deck.

"Blowing hard enough to blow the devil's horns off," I heard him
exclaim, "and as thick as a hedge. And, my precious eyes! what a sea!
come up and take a look at it, Harry, boy; I never see'd nothing like it
all the years I've been afloat. Hurrah, young un! _that's_ your sort,"
as the cutter rose fearfully near to the perpendicular in surmounting
the crest of a sea, and then slid down, down, down into the trough,
until it seemed as though she would sink to the very ocean's bed. "And
_don't_ the little hussy behave beautifully! She's