John was a foreigner and
high-tempered, and, though mortified, as any one would be at having
had the worst of an encounter, yet his chief feeling seemed to be
anger; and he talked much of satisfaction and revenge, if he ever
got back to Boston. But with the other, it was very different. He
was an American, and had had some education; and this thing coming
upon him, seemed completely to break him down. He had a feeling of the
degradation that had been inflicted upon him, which the other man
was incapable of. Before that, he had a good deal of fun, and amused
us often with queer negro stories,- (he was from a slave state); but
afterwards he seldom smiled; seemed to lose all life and elasticity;
and appeared to have but one wish, and that was for the voyage to be
at an end. I have often known him to draw a long sigh when he was
alone, and he took but little part or interest in John's plans of
satisfaction and retaliation.
After a stay of about a fortnight, during which we slipped for one
south-easter, and were at sea two days, we got under weigh for Santa
Barbara. It was now the middle of April, and the south-easter season
was nearly over; and the light, regular trade-winds, which blow down
the coast, began to set steadily in, during the latter part of each
day.
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