each other's embrace and wept conservative tears upon each other's
blue shirt-collars, while the sternly patriotic Cook pushed the
seductive bowl afar and whistled the "Star-Spangled Banner," as a
counter-irritant. But when he asked for his bill, and found that it
was but thirty-five cents for each individual, he retired to the hotel
parlor where there was an asthmatic cottage-organ and penitently played
"Rule, Britannia," keeping, however, a cautious foot upon the soft
pedal lest his temporary lapse from national love should be discovered.
On returning to the boats it was discovered that the small boy who had
been engaged as watchman had accumulated half a hundred deputies. As
none of these expected any money, the fickle Vice fluctuated back to
his first love among the nations, and was rebuked by the Commodore for
judging all things by a financial standard.
The breeze had apparently been to dinner too, for it was amazingly
reinvigorated and marked about forty flaws to the hour. An order to
carry only "dandy" sails was protested against by the entire command,
and the Commodore, hoping that the coffin trade was not depressed in
the shipping port at the river's mouth, reluctantly gave way to the
wishes of his subordinates. The result was that extraordinary time was
made, and twenty-five miles were passed almost before the voyagers
realized that the afternoon was waning.
As they approached the close of their voyage, the considerable town
where their voyage was to end, it occurred to the squadron that its
personal and individual appearance was the reverse of prepossessing.
A halt was accordingly made, and for an hour assiduous attention was
paid to baths, soap, shaving utensils, and the carefully preserved
remnants of what had once been laundried articles of wear. The one
pocket mirror had long since disappeared, so that certain delicate
operations of the toilette were performed with some uncertainty. The
Commodore had reached the final touches, and was tenderly arranging the
thin locks which still cluster about his posterior cranial processes.
To this task he devoted for a time all the powers of his gigantic
intellect, but in the absence of the accustomed mirror, the result was
unsatisfactory. Dropping his hand at last, the Commodore sighed, and
looked around for assistance. The Vice, resplendent in a white shirt
and neck-tie, was unoccupied. To him the Commodore, tendering the
fragmentary comb:
"I say, Vice, part my hair, will you, please."
The Vice marveled, but mechanically took the comb, while the
Commodorial dome was bowed conveniently before him. Long he paused, so
long that the Commodore, losing patience, called out, "Why don't you go
ahead?"
"My dear boy," said the Vice, "So I would, but there's nothing in the
world to part."
The venerable mariner slowly straightened himself, looked blankly
for a moment into the face of his lieutenant, and passed his hand
reflectively over the smooth top of his head.
"I beg your pardon, boys," he said at last. "I had forgotten. This
cruise has made me so much younger that I thought I wasn't bald yet.
It's high time for me to be back at the office--'There'll be no parting
there.'"
Of the remainder of the run, some five or six miles, no member of
the squadron is mentally fitted to give a correct account. Every one
wanted to be first in port, and the Vice, in anticipation of being the
fortunate man, had secretly extemporized a new star spangled banner to
carry at the peak of his mainsail. But both Red Lakers shot ahead of
the Chrysalids, and the Vice at last ignominiously took in his national
ensign because it wasted a certain amount of wind.[11] Finding there
was but one boat against him, the Cook assumed that he had himself
already won the race, so he began to compose a sarcastic address to
be delivered to his associates as one by one they rejoined him at
whatever landing-place he might select. While he composed he heard a
whiz, he saw a shadow, and the wind died (apparently) so suddenly that
he barely had time to adjust the trim of his boat to avoid capsizing.
Looking about him he saw the great sails of the flagship passing him to
windward, and he heard the voice of the Commodore, in tones which no
combination of type can express, shouting,
"Come to the best hotel and see me when you get in!"
So the Cook looked about for some excuse to make for what would be
his probable tardiness, and he soon found it. As he flew past a large
assemblage of rafts, he found their occupants, all Canadians, in an
extreme fever of curiosity to know how the boats were steered; the
wind being from their own bank, they could not see the steering-oar on
the opposite side. They also looked upon the Red Lake boats, built in
their own country, as utter strangers, which fact enabled the Cook
to moralize, by comparison, upon the ignorance of people about their
own neighbors, and upon the peculiar fancies which in such cases are
made to do duty as facts. The Cook explained to the full extent of his
knowledge and his French, and then, sighting the Chrysalids within a
mile he sheared away, and within five minutes a swell from a steamer
sent a wave of St. Lawrence water under his bows, and he saw the "Great
Lone River of the North," from the midst of as entangling an alliance
of steamers, barges, tugs, schooners, ferry-boats, yachts, fishing
boats and pirogues as any canoe was ever imperilled of, while the
Commodore lay under the lee of a decayed pier, and placidly smoked at
his subordinate's confusion.
The St. Lawrence was hailed with delight by the tardy Chrysalids when
they reached it, and then the party strolled to the post office,
debating whether to run up to Montreal, which course the wind favored,
or down to Quebec, with the current and an occasional tide to help.
All admitted that the cruise had but fairly begun; placid lakes and
beautiful rivers were all very well, but,
"Give to them the roaring seas
And the white waves heaving high,"
or as much thereof as was within the bestowal of a river many miles
across. Just then they reached the post-office, their change of course
deprived them of mail matter for several days. How it came about,
nobody knew; but within an hour the Commodore, his boat stowed for
return as freight, was on a train for New York, and his comrades were
mourning that they could not accompany him. That evening all the canoes
were stowed, and placed on board a south-bound canal-boat, while the
Vice, the Purser and the Cook sat in Christian garb upon the deck of
the Montreal steamer, smoked cigars instead of pipes, and discussed
dados, symphony concerts, the woman question, the railroad riots, and
the impending finance muddle as conventionally as if they had never
lived out of doors.
* * * * *
A few days later they met at a canoe club dinner in New York, but
neither claw-hammer coat nor white tie could smother the fire within
them as they discussed the merits of their respective boats.
"The Chrysalids don't ziz-zag when they're paddled, as the keelless Red
Lakers do," observed the Vice.
"Nor do they keep within hailing distance in a breeze in which even a
dead log would run and be joyful," retorted the Commodore.
"They need no lee-board to keep them from drifting down the wind," said
the Purser.
"Nor more than three men to land them on a shore upon which a gentle
tug at the painter will beach a Red Laker," said the Cook.
"Give me a boat," said the Vice, "which steers in the ordinary
ship-shape manner."
"I," remarked the Commodore, "prefer one whose Commander don't have to
analyze a whole rope yard before he can get her into sailing condition."
"The idea of oilcloth decks for any sort of a craft!" exclaimed the
Purser.
"Or of decks that make you imagine it's resurrection morn, and you're
crossing the Styx in your own coffin," said the Cook.
"Order, gentlemen," shouted the ruler of the feast; "if you've any
personal difficulties to settle, please retire to the ante-room, and
cease disturbing the club."
"Ze ante-room," remarked the caterer, "is full of ze Alderman an' ze
Judge, who fight about ze merits of ze Rob Roy boats an' ze paper
canoe."
"Then I will settle the question myself," said the President, taking
from his pocket a copper cent of the fathers. "Heads signifies the
superiority of the Chrysalids, tails of the Red Lakers."
The coin spun in the air, and the quartette sprang to its collective
feet. It came down exactly edgewise into a bit of Fromage de Brie, and
so remained.
[Footnote 9: NOTE BY THE COMMODORE.--The Cook's notoriously fertile
imagination has misled him slightly in regard to this _menu_.
But let it stand. The Commodore, however, wishes to state that
salt-pork and hard-tack formed the staple of the repast so far as
he was personally concerned.]
[Footnote 10: Note by the rest of the Squadron--"As usual--Ha ha!"]
[Footnote 11: The astute congressman who occasionally enables the
eagle to scream may find a valuable precedent in this act of the
Vice.]
APPENDIX.
In the preceding pages the authors have introduced in a desultory
way some hints which it is hoped may prove of practical use to
inexperienced or possibly to experienced canoeists. There are some
questions however which are asked by every one who contemplates
engaging in this delightful recreation, and to a few of these questions
answers are now volunteered.
I. Where can I get a canoe?
The best answer is a list of builders. James Everson, Williamsburgh, N.
Y., W. Jarvis, Ithaca, N. Y., and George Roahr, Harlem, N. Y., build
excellent boats after the Nautilus model and its modifications. These
all build on the well known lap-streak or clinker plan, using cedar
planks and oak timbers. Mr. J. H. Rushton of Canton, N. Y., builds
after the Nautilus and Rob Roy models, also after a model of his own.
He has a peculiar method of construction, which makes his work very
strong and serviceable. Walters & Sons, of Troy, N. Y., build paper
boats after the Nautilus and Rob Roy models, D. Herald, of Rice Lake,
Ontario, Canada, builds canoes on a model of his own approximating to
the best type of Indian "birch." His method of building is described on
page 106. The model is admirable for speed, sea-worthiness and safety.
At Ottawa, Canada, is a builder named English whose boats are well
spoken of but the authors are not personally acquainted with them. J.
F. West, of East Orange, N. J., builds light and serviceable boats of
ash strips covered with painted canvas. He does not build for sale, but
will furnish information for those who wish to build for themselves.
II. How much does a canoe cost?
Seven dollars a foot is not an unfair rule whereby to estimate the
cost of a lap-streak, Nautilus model, including spars and rudder.
Some builders charge more, others less than this. The Canadian canoes
are cheapest of all, but to the first cost must be added the tariff
duty for importation into the United States (about thirty per cent
ad valorem). Herald's highest priced canoe, seventeen feet long, was
at latest advices forty-five dollars. This size is built under his
patent and copper fastened throughout. Built in the rib-batten style,
the price is ten dollars less and canoes of smaller sizes of both
kinds still less. The Nautilus models are largely decked over fore
and aft without extra cost, and are provided with ample water-tight
compartments which are invaluable in case of accident and may be fitted
with hatches which render them available for stowage. The other models
whose first cost is less, are not provided with these conveniences
except by special arrangement, involving of course additional expense.
A canoe may be purchased and fully rigged for less than a hundred
dollars if her purchaser is gifted with mechanical ingenuity. Or if
money is no object, the cost may be run up to almost any figure. The
ordinary price of a double-bladed paddle is in the United States five
dollars. All the builders make them. A specialist is Henry Mitchell, of
Bergen, New Jersey.
III. Miscellaneous.
For sails use the best unbleached heavy twilled cotton sheeting, double
width. Cut so that the selvedge will form the leach of the sail. Hem
half an inch wide, stitched on both edges. Strong laid cotton cord
about an eighth of an inch in diameter should be sewed along the luff
of the sail, and is by no means undesirable along the other edges,
loops for making fast being provided whenever needed. All these cotton
articles should be well soaked before being made up to prevent unequal
shrinkage. The plates entitled "Under full sail," and "Close hauled"
give a sufficiently accurate idea of the size and shape of sails. The
"Chrysalid," as drawn, is supposed to be fourteen feet long, and the
"Red Laker" seventeen feet. From this the size of the sails can be
easily ascertained. The flying jib shown in one of the cuts is of no
practical use, and no one is advised to rig one.
Laid or braided cotton cord of one-eighth-inch or a little more in
diameter is best for running rigging. For painter use braided sash
cord, or best Manilla hemp.
Probably the best varnish for canoes, spars, paddles, etc., is
"Pellucidite" Nos. 1 and 2, made by Seely and Stevens, of No. 32
Burling Slip, New York. The same house has "paste filling" which should
be applied before the varnish. The best brown shellac is very good
and possesses the inestimable virtue of drying in ten minutes. It may
be applied over the paste filling above mentioned. All varnishes are
better and clearer for being laid on and suffered to dry in the sun.
All metal work about a canoe should be brass or copper. If it is
nickel-plated, so much the better.
Decks or coverings of some sort are essential. These may be fixed
as in the Nautilus model, or movable, which is better for obvious
reasons. Canvas, rubber, or glazed cloth serve very well. A simple and
inexpensive device is to sew small rings in the edges and hook them
over small round-headed brass screws set along the gunwale. Let the
screws be either on top of the gunwale or under it. If set along the
outer edge they are sure to be knocked off. The authors, after a trial
of flexible covers, have decided in favor of wooden decks, fastened
along the gunwale with simple keys, staples, or buttons. If cloth is
used ridge-poles are necessary to make a watershed. Wooden decks should
be cambered or arched for the same reason. The open central space
should have a flexible cover available in rain.
Some of the open canoes have thwarts which are curved downward. This
makes them uncomfortable to sleep in, and the builder should be
directed to curve them upward. They can be easily changed if desired.
The masts should be stepped in fixed copper tubes, because these
relieve the canoeist from the often difficult task of feeling about
blindly for the lower step in the bottom of the boat, and because an
accidental starting of the mast may lift it clear of the step, in which
case, lacking the tube, it will inevitably split the deck. Suitable
tapered tubes known as hose-pipes are kept in stock by dealers in
copper tubing. The taper is an advantage as the mast cannot well be
stuck fast therein. Cost only a few cents.
Bags of cork-shavings, air-pillows, tin cans, or other like devices may
serve open canoes instead of the water-tight compartments of Nautili.
Melted candle grease rubbed into a crack will make it temporarily
water tight. White lead is more permanent, and gutta-percha softened
in warm water and pressed in is highly recommended. This last is not
vouched for personally.
Fine copper wire is very useful about a canoe for lashings, etc.:
Very light and easily working mast-rings may be made by stringing
wooden or glass beads on stout copper wire, which is then bent to
the desired size. Solid rings without beads (or "pearls" in strictly
nautical phrase) are apt sometimes to hang on the mast. The beads serve
as little wheels in running the sail up and down.
The "latteen" rig is very pretty, but very dangerous. It is not
recommended. The "standing lug" which is, in effect the latteen with
nearly all the dangerous part cut off, works very well.
A lee-board may be used to advantage in working to windward. It should
be hung over the lee-side a little forward of amidships. The simplest
way of making it fast is to pass a line through holes in its upper edge
so that turns can be taken over the cleats used for sheets. The strain
of a lee-board is quite heavy and all its connections must be made
strong. It has of course to be shifted from side to side as often as
the canoe goes about.
In paddling some sort of a cushion or elastic seat is necessary.
Abrasions and possibly more serious difficulties will follow a
disregard of this advice.
Do not undertake to be a canoeist unless you can swim easily and well,
and do not attempt to sail until you are well accustomed to your boat
under paddle.
To render cloth of any kind water-proof the following recipe may be
found useful:
Into a bucket of soft water put half a pound of sugar of lead and half
a pound of powdered alum: stir at intervals during a day or two until a
clear, saturated solution is formed. Pour off into another vessel, soak
the cloth therein for twenty-four hours and then hang it to dry in the
shade without wringing. By this process an insoluble salt is deposited
on the cloth fibres and the fabric will shed water like a duck's back.
Woolens such as good Scotch tweed, retain their water-proof qualities
indefinitely, cottons not so long.
A glue which is practically water-proof may be made by boiling
isinglass (Russian is best) in skimmed milk. The proper proportion
is about two ounces to a pint. Common glue treated in like manner is
rendered a good deal more capable of resisting moisture than when made
with water in the usual way.
THE END.
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