Guard had already taken up his quarters there.
"Dis am berry suddin change," the darky would remark gravely to each of us as we successively made our appearance.

"Berry suddin.

The gerometum fallin' fast.

Srink 'im all up, ser cold.

Now, dis forenoon it am quite comf'ble; warm 'nuf ter take a nap in the sun: but now--oo-oo-ooo! awful cold!" And Palmleaf would move his sable cheek up close to the hot stove-pipe, Guard all the time regarding him soberly from the other side.
Bidding the negro keep coffee hot and ready for us, we would hurry on deck again, and resume our places in the bow; for it required vigilant eyes to look out for all the ugly ice-cakes among which the schooner was driving.