THE CROSSING There were curious events in the voyage of Jack and Solomon.

The date of the letter above referred to would indicate that they sailed on or about the eleventh of October, 1773.

Their ship was _The Snow_ which had arrived the week before with some fifty Irish servants, indentured for their passage.

These latter were, in a sense, slaves placed in bondage to sundry employers by the captain of the ship for a term of years until the sum due to the owners for their transportation had been paid--a sum far too large, it would seem.
Jack was sick for a number of days after the voyage began but Solomon, who was up and about and cheerful in the roughest weather, having spent a part of his youth at sea, took care of his young friend.

Jack tells in a letter that he was often awakened in the night by vermin and every morning by the crowing of cocks.