Two years abaft the mast; or, Life as a sea apprentice . to go belowuntil wanted. Eeed half-pulled me from mybunk at four bells, arousing me out of a heavysleep; he was all excitement, as a large steamerwould soon pass us, judging from her lightsahead. I got on deck just in time to see herpass, but I did not think the sight counterbal-anced my discomfort in turning out. I againrolled into my bunk and soon dropped off eleven oclock we were called on deck tostand by for orders. The Heads now wereless than a mile off, and their outline stoodboldly out from the bright moonlit sky. Thepil
Two years abaft the mast; or, Life as a sea apprentice . to go belowuntil wanted. Eeed half-pulled me from mybunk at four bells, arousing me out of a heavysleep; he was all excitement, as a large steamerwould soon pass us, judging from her lightsahead. I got on deck just in time to see herpass, but I did not think the sight counterbal-anced my discomfort in turning out. I againrolled into my bunk and soon dropped off eleven oclock we were called on deck tostand by for orders. The Heads now wereless than a mile off, and their outline stoodboldly out from the bright moonlit sky. Thepilot-boat could be seen pulling towards us withtheir light burning; and the mainyard beingbacked, they were soon alongside. The pilotwas a thick-set man of medium height, who atonce ordered the mainyard to be squared. Fouror five Kanakas (South Sea Islanders) who hadcharge of his boat, lent us a hand at pulling onthe ropes. We glided slowly along, wafted byso little wind that the sails were scarcely was enraptured with the scene: the full moon,. ? ;:••;.: A CURIOUS BET. 81 calm sea, and apparently overhanging coast, withthe surrounding stillness only broken by thedistant roar of the sea on the beach, quite mademe wonder whether it was a dream or I did not know then that it was only thebeginning of a series of enchanting panoramas,each surpassing one another in loveliness. At midnight exactly, we passed in betweenthe Heads, and the royals being clewed up, Isprang up to stow the main. A rather curiousbet had been made between Mr Paxton and MrCrafton six weeks previous to our arrival here,as to what would be the date of our arriving atSydney. One side bet it would be before the15th March, the other that it would be passed the Heads (the entrance to Syd-ney harbour) exactly at midnight of the 15thof that month; thus meeting both wagers half-way. What happy feelings come over one whengliding into port after a long dreary passage ofseveral months! The
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Keywords: ., book, bookcentury1800, booksubjectvoyagesandtravels, bookyear1884
