A Voyage in the Sunbeam | Page 3

We found, however, that the high
rocks which surround the snug little bathing cove made the water as
cold as ice.
Nothing more having been heard of our poor little kitten, we can only
conclude that she has gone overboard. Just as we were leaving the
railway-station, however, we saw a small white kitten with a blue

ribbon round its neck; and all the children at once exclaimed, 'There's
our Lily!' We made inquiries, and found that it belonged to the young
woman at the refreshment room, who, after some demur, allowed us to
take it away with us, in compliance with Muriel's anxious wish,
expressed on her face.
About ten o'clock we got under way, but lay-to for breakfast. We then
had a regular beat of it down Channel--everybody being ill. We formed
a melancholy-looking little row down the lee side of the ship, though I
must say that we were quite as cheery as might have been expected
under the circumstances. It was bright and sunny overhead, which
made things more bearable.
Sunday, July 9th.--A calm at 2 a.m. Orders were given to get up steam;
but the new coals from Chatham were slow to light, though good to
keep up steam when once fairly kindled. For four long hours, therefore,
we lolloped about in the trough of a heavy sea, the sails flapping as the
vessel rolled. By the time the steam was up so was the breeze--a
contrary one, of course. We accordingly steamed and sailed all day,
taking more water on board, though not really in any great quantity,
than I had ever seen the good ship do before. She carries a larger supply
of coal and other stores than usual, and no doubt the square yards on
the foremast make her pitch more heavily. We were all very sorry for
ourselves, and 'church,' postponed from eleven until four o'clock,
brought together but a small congregation.
On the 8th we were fairly away from Old England, and on the next day
off Ushant, which we rounded at about 4.30 p.m., at the distance of a
mile and a half; the sea was tremendous, the waves breaking in
columns of spray against the sharp needle-like rocks that form the point
of the island. The only excitement during the day was afforded by the
visit of a pilot-boat (without any fish on board), whose owner was very
anxious to take us into Brest, 'safe from the coming storm,' which he
predicted. In addition to our other discomforts, it now rained hard; and
by half-past six I think nearly all our party had made up their minds
that bed would be the most comfortable place.
Two days later we sailed into lovely, bright, warm, sunny weather, with

a strong north-easterly breeze, a following sea, and an occasional long
roll from the westward. But as the sun rose, the wind increased, and we
got rather knocked about by the sea. A good deal of water came on
board, and it was impossible to sit anywhere in comfort, unless lashed
or firmly wedged in. We were, however, going ten knots through the
water, on our course, under our new square head canvas; and this fact
made up for a good deal of discomfort.
The thirty extra tons of spare sails, spars, and provisions, the fifteen
tons of water, and the eighty-four tons of coal, made a great difference
in our buoyancy, and the sea came popping in and out at the most
unexpected places; much to the delight of the children, who, with bare
feet and legs, and armed with mops and sponges, waged mimic war
against the intruder and each other, singing and dancing to their hearts'
content. This amusement was occasionally interrupted by a heavier roll
than usual, sending them all into the lee scuppers, sousing them from
head to foot, and necessitating a thorough change of clothing, despite
their urgent protest that sea-water never hurt anybody.
After our five o'clock dinner, however, we very nearly met with a most
serious accident. We were all sitting or standing about the stern of the
vessel, admiring the magnificent dark blue billows following us, with
their curling white crests, mountains high. Each wave, as it approached,
appeared as if it must overwhelm us, instead of which, it rushed
grandly by, rolling and shaking us from stem to stern, and sending
fountains of spray on board.
[Illustration: Nearly Overboard.]
Tom was looking at the stern compass, Allnutt being close to him. Mr.
Bingham and Mr. Freer were smoking, half-way between the
quarter-deck and the after-companion, where Captain Brown, Dr. Potter,
Muriel, and I, were standing. Captain Lecky, seated on a large coil of
rope, placed on the box of the rudder, was spinning Mabelle a yarn. A
new hand was steering, and just