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nvas covering。 My hopes of reaching the open sea that night were to be drowned； and in cold water too； for that day； which opened so calmly and with such smiling promises； was destined to prove a season of trial； and before its evening shadows closed around me； to witness a severe struggle for life in the cold waters of Delaware Bay。
An hour after leaving Murderkill Creek the wind came from the north in strong squalls。 My little boat taking the blasts on her quarter； kept herself free of the swashy seas hour after hour。 I kept as close to the sandy beach of the great marshes as possible； so as to be near the land in case an accident should happen。 Mispillion Creek and a light…house on the north of its mouth were passed； when the wind and seas struck my boat on the port beam； and continually crowded her ashore。 The water breaking on the hard； sandy beach of the marshy coast made it too much of a risk to attempt a landing； as the canoe would be smothered in the swashy seas if her head way was checked for a moment。 Amidships the canoe was only a few inches out of water； but her great sheer； full bow； and smoothness of hull； with watchful management； kept her from swamping。 I had struggled along for fourteen miles since morning； and was fatigued by the strain consequent upon the continued manoeuvring of my boat through the rough waves。 I reached a point on Slaughter Beach； where the bay has a width of nearly nineteen miles； when the tempest rose to such a pitch that the great raging seas threatened every moment to wash over my canoe； and to force me by their violence close into the beach。 To my alarm； as the boat rose and fell upon the waves； the heads of sharp…pointed stakes appeared and disappeared in the broken waters。 They were the stakes of fishermen to which they attach their nets in the season of trout…fishing。 The danger of being impaled on one of these forced me off shore again。
There was no undertow； the seas being driven over shoals were irregular and broken。 At last my sea came。 It rolled up without a crest； square and formidable。 I could not calculate where it would break； but I pulled for life away from it towards the beach upon which the sea was breaking with deafening sound。 It was only for a moment that I beheld the great brown wave； which bore with it the mud of the shoal； bearing down upon me； for the next； it broke astern； sweeping completely over the canoe from stern to stem； filling it through the opening of the canvas round my body。 Then for a while the watery area was almost smooth； so completely had the great wave levelled it。 The canoe being water…logged； settled below the surface； the high points of the ends occasionally emerging from the water。 Other heavy seas followed the first； one of which striking me as high as my head and shoulders； turned both the canoe and canoeist upside…down。
A Capsize in Delaware Bay （100K）
Kicking myself free of the canvas deck； I struck out from under the shell； and quickly rose to the surface。 It was then that the words of an author of a European Canoe Manual came to my mind： 〃When you capsize； first right the canoe and get astride it over one end； keeping your legs in the water； when you have crawled to the well or cockpit； bale out the boat with your hat。〃 Comforting as these instructions from an experienced canoe traveller seemed when reading them in my hermitage ashore； the present application of them （so important a principle in Captain Jack Bunsby's log of life） was in this emergency an impossibility； for my hat had disappeared with the seat…cushion and one iron outrigger； while the oars were floating to leeward with the canoe。
The boat having turned keel up； her great sheer would have righted her had it not been for the cargo； which settled itself on the canvas deck…cloth； and ballasted the craft in that position。 So smooth were her polished sides that it was impossible to hold on to her； for she rolled about like a slippery porpoise in a tideway。 having tested and proved futile the kind suggestions of writers on marine disasters； and feeling very stiff in the icy water； I struck out in an almost exhausted condition for the shore。 Now a new experience taught me an interesting lesson。 The seas rolled over my head and shoulders in such rapid succession； that I found I could not get my head above water to breathe； while the sharp sand kept in suspension by the agitated water scratched my face； and filled my eyes； nostrils； and ears。 While I felt this pressing down and burying tendency of the seas； as they broke upon my head and shoulders； I understood the reason why so many good swimmers are drowned in attempting to reach the shore from a wreck on a shoal； when the wind； though blowing heavily； is in the victim's favor。 The land was not over an eighth of a mile away； and from it came the sullen roar of the breakers； pounding their heavy weight upon the sandy shingle。 As its booming thunders or its angry； swashing sound increased； I knew I was rapidly nearing it； but； blinded by the boiling waters； I could see nothing。
At such a moment do not stop to make vows as to how you will treat your neighbor in future if once safely landed； but strike out； fight as you never fought before； swallowing as little water as possible； and never relaxing an energy or yielding a hope。 The water shoaled； my feet felt the bottom； and I stood up； but a roller laid me flat on my face。 Up again and down again； swimming and crawling； I emerged from the sea； bearing； I fear； a closer resemblance to Jonah
（being at last pitched on shore） than to Cabnel's Venus； who was borne gracefully upon the rosy crests of the sky…reflecting waves to the soft bed of sparkling foam awaiting her。
Wearily dragging myself up the hard shingle； I stood and contemplated the little streams of water pouring from my woollen clothes。 A new danger awaited me as the cold wind whistled down the barren beach and across the desolate marshes。 I danced about to keep warm； and for a moment thought that my canoe voyage had come to an unfortunate termination。 Then a buoyant feeling succeeded the moment's depression； and I felt that this was only the first of many trials which were necessary to prepare me for the successful completion of my undertaking。 But where was the canoe； with its provisions that were to sustain me； and the charts which were to point out my way through the labyrinth of waters she was yet to traverse？ She had drifted near the shore； but would not land。 There was no time to consider the propriety of again entering the water。 The struggle was a short though severe one； and I dragged my boat ashore。
Everything was wet excepting what was most needed； a flannel suit； carefully rolled in a water…proof cloth。 I knew that I must change my wet clothes for dry ones； or perish。 This was no easy task to perform； with hands benumbed and limbs paralyzed with the cold。 O shade of Benjamin Franklin； did not one of thy kinsmen； in his wide experience as a traveller； foresee this very disaster； and did he not； when I left the 〃City of Brotherly Love；〃 force upon me an antidote； a sort of spiritual fire； which my New England temperance principles made m