"Sure and I was. And better before the race than in the race. And next day--that's to-day--we spent putting in a new stick. I had to take what I could get to save time, and I don't think it's what it ought to be and maybe it won't last through to-morrow. But, anyway, you want to have an eye out for the Colleen to-morrow, for I'm telling you I never see her sail like she did yesterday coming across the Bay. Ask Tom Lowrie next time you see him. Well, to-night I had to beat down here to be sure and be here in time, and so out we put--and here I am. Blowing? Indeed and it is. And thick, is it? Standing on her knight-heads and looking aft you c'd no more than make out her side-lights. We came along, and Boston inner and outer harbor crowded with vessels, steamers and sail, waiting for it to moderate so they c'd put out. A blessed wonder it was we didn't sink somebody--or ourselves. Outside we went along by smell, I think, for only every once in awhile could we see a light. One time we almost ran into something--a fisherman it must have been, for I s'pose only a fisherman would be going in on a night like this--out of a squall of snow and blackness she came--man alive! but, whoever she was, she was coming a great clip. Winged out and we didn't see her till the end of her bowsprit caught the end of our main-boom--hauled in we were to two blocks--and over we went on the other tack--yes, sir, over on the other tack. Thinks I, ''Tis a new way to jibe a vessel over.' And the end of her fore-boom all but swept me from beside the wheel and over the rail as she went by--she was that close. And I sings out to her, 'Won't you leave us your name so I can thank you next time we meet?' but Lord, not a word out of him. He kept on to Boston, I suppose, and we kept on to Gloucester, and here I am." "And the Colleen, Tom--she's all right?"