.MTIwNg.OTMwMzg

16 of our baby - as soon have jocosily dubbed our big man - seeing Newcomb staggering from a sudden lurch of the ship - he exclaimed "Wo there ! Cant you stand still !" - We stumble around the vessel - crying to each other - "Wo there ! 'Cant you stand still now!" We were quite amased by a stretching scrape one day. One big fellow having asserted he never saw a man who could spread his hands as wide as himself - several of our tall ones gave him a trial. They spread along the side of the cabin. I marked the distance but the challenge distanced them all. This stretch extended out like Tampoons and as he reached along the pillars of the state room doors. I thought of the feat of that old champion of Israel - in the temple of the Philistines. An Incident : - About 9 o'clock - a large bird - called the Booby came hovering around the bow of the boat. Instantly there was great excitement among the fore castle loungers. Up and down flew the bird - taking a turn off and then again coming so near as to be almost caught in the hands - "Fall back ! was a length the general cry - "Fall back ! and the bird will light fall asleep and can then be caught!" - But no none could be persuaded - most of them even too eager to be within arms reach - to fall back - and the shooters were too anxious to get a shot. Rifles were brought in haste at the first intimation of the bird - loaded in hast & pointed in a dangerous manner towards the unsuspecting Booby. Several shots were fired - but the poor fool paid no attention - he still persisted in being friendly towards us. Most were indignant at the blood thirstiness of the sportsmen - they tried to cry down their purpose - but no heed was given. Pretty soon - a shot was fired and down fell the expiring bird upon the deck. I regretted exceedingly this finish for I hoped they would have let the bird light - that he might have been taken alive. Sailors often catch them on the yard arm. When asleep a man steals to them and grabs them suddenly by the neck