It necessary to hold on with both hands, and then sweeping off,
in another long, irregular curve. I was not positively sick,
and came down with a look of indifference, yet was not unwilling
to get upon the comparative terra firma of the deck. A few hours
more carried us through, and when we saw the sun go down, upon our
larboard beam, in the direction of the continent of North America,
we had left the bank of dark, stormy clouds astern, in the twilight.
CHAPTER XXXVI
SOUNDINGS - SIGHTS FROM HOME - BOSTON HARBOR - LEAVING THE SHIP
Friday, Sept. 16th. Lat. 38° N., long. 69° 00' W. A fine south-west
wind; every hour carrying us nearer in toward land. All hands on deck
at the dog watch, and nothing talked about, but our getting in; where
we should make the land; whether we should arrive before Sunday;
going to church; how Boston would look; friends; wages paid; - and
the like. Every one was in the best of spirits; and, the voyage
being nearly at an end, the strictness of discipline was relaxed;
for it was not necessary to order in a cross tone, what every one
was ready to do with a will.
The little differences and quarrels which a long voyage breeds
on board a ship, were forgotten, and every one was friendly;
and two men, who had been on the eve of a battle half the voyage,
were laying out a plan together for a cruise on shore.
