for having my clothes wet. It was fine fun wading in the nice warm salty water. One day I got too much of it; we had the vessel nearly out to where it would float; I 'was standing on the outer end of the launching way, with some other boys; we were splashing water on one another and a light splash struck the boss. He did not say much about it but a little while afterwards, when he got a chance, he pushed me over the end of the stage into the sea. I struck the water so hard that it stopped my breathing. I rolled about helplessly with my mouth open and the water pouring into me, like into a bottle. I would like- ly have drowned had not some one rescued me. My brother Jim pulled me out. I was about exhausted. He was ready to fight the boss, but cooled down in a few minutes and there was no serious trou- ble about it. It was a mean trick. The crowd disapproved of it. The provocation was accidental and very slight. The boss was gener- ally an agreeable man, but he had a quick temper and was a little high- minded. I think he saw he made a mistake, as he was employed by my brother and cousin. He was very quiet afterwards.

When the vessel was launched I was allowed to sail in her on her

maiden voyage. It was my first sea voyage. I was happy. I was to realize "the glories of the sea”. Its dangers too. We had to sail

around the dangerous East Point, which I described in a previous Chapter, and west on Northumberland Strait, to Souris, a distance of about thirty miles. We put stones in for ballast, but not nearly enough. The hatches were not yet made, so the hatchways were left Open. The sails we had belonged to a larger vessel, and could not be made to set properly. They were like a big man’s clothes on a small boy. We expected to reach our destination the day we started, so we took no provisions, or very little. We had no qualified captain; a man who had sailed in vessels was put in charge of the ship with my . brother, who was part owner, as assistant. When we started a light favourable breeze sent us along gaily. We were in good spirits. The captain, however, got some bad spirits into him and he got dancing utight”. He was having a dance in the cabin; those of us on deck could see his boot stick up above the hatchway when he kicked. We

got becalmed off The Point and had to anchor for the night for fear 01c drifting on the reef. We had no light on board. My brother had

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