Our crew was now considerably
weakened. One man we had lost overboard; another had been taken aft as
clerk; and a third had run away; so that, beside S--- and myself,
there were only three able seamen and one boy of twelve years of
age. With this diminished and discontented crew, and in a small
vessel, we were now to battle the watch through a couple of years of
hard service; yet there was not one who was not glad that F--- had
escaped; for, shiftless and good for nothing as he was, no one could
wish to see him dragging on a miserable life, cowed down and
disheartened; and we were all rejoiced to hear, upon our return to San
Diego, about two months afterwards, that he had been immediately taken
aboard the Lagoda, and went home in her, on regular seaman's wages.
After a slow passage of five days, we arrived, on Wednesday, the
first of April, at our old anchoring ground at San Pedro. The bay
was as deserted, and looked as dreary, as before, and formed no
pleasing contrast with the security and snugness of San Diego, and the
activity and interest which the loading and unloading of four
vessels gave to that scene.
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