The gale from which we slipped
at Santa Barbara, had been so bad a one here, that the whole bay,
for a league out, was filled with the foam of the breakers, and seas
actually broke over the Dead Man's island. The Lagoda was lying there,
and slipped at the first alarm, and in such haste that she was
obliged to leave her launch behind her at anchor. The little boat rode
it out for several hours, pitching at her anchor, and standing with
her stern up almost perpendicularly. The men told me that they watched
her till towards night, when she snapped her cable and drove up over
the breakers, high and dry upon the beach.
On board the Pilgrim, everything went on regularly, each one
trying to get along as smoothly as possible; but the comfort of the
voyage was evidently at an end. "That is a long lane which has no
turning"- "Every dog must have his day, and mine will come
by-and-by"- and the like proverbs, were occasionally quoted; but no
one spoke of any probable end to the voyage, or of Boston, or anything
of the kind; or if he did, it was only to draw out the perpetual,
surly reply from his shipmate- "Boston, is it? You may thank your
stars if you ever see that place.
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