SW_Sutcliff_Page_010

a fine prospect of Caernarvon Bay; but before the evening closed, the sky was overcast, and the wind got up, so that we were under the necessity of taking in a great part of our sails; and several of us began to be very sick. In the course of the night, which was very dark, the wind became contrary; and it was with great difficulty we got through the narrow part of the Channel, near St. David's Head, without fairly putting back towards Liverpool. The passage was not accomplished, without several times tack- ing from one coast to the other; and, could I have had the management, I would gladly have put the ship into Milford Haven, and did advise the Captain to do it. However, we had cause to be thankful that we got well out of this narrow sea, although not without imminent danger of losing our cabin- boy, who was washed overboard as he was carry- ing the knives and forks from the caboose to the cabin; but, in passing through the railing, he got entangled among some ropes which hung from the rail, and was thus providentially preserved. Nearly our whole stock of table knives and forks were lost, which was a great inconveniency to us, especially being just at the commencement of our voyage; however I did not regret the loss of the knives and forks, seeing the boy's life was preserved. This accident made so strong an impression upon the poor lad, that he never recovered his spirits during the voyage.