He went through the
water leaving a wake like a small steamboat. I certainly never saw
such swimming before. They saw him coming from the deck, but did not
heave-to suspecting the nature of his errand; yet, the wind continuing
light, he swam alongside and got on board, and delivered his letter.
The captain read the letter, told the Kanaka there was no answer,
and giving him a glass of brandy, left him to jump overboard and
find the best of his way to the shore. The Kanaka swam in for the
nearest point of land, and, in about an hour, made his appearance at
the hide-house. He did not seem at all fatigued, had made three or
four dollars, got a glass of brandy, and was in fine spirits. The brig
kept on her course, and the government officers, who had come down
to forbid her sailing, went back, each with something like a flea in
his ear, having depended upon extorting a little more money from the
owner.
It was now nearly three months since the Alert arrived at Santa
Barbara, and we began to expect her daily. About a half a mile
behind the hide-house, was a high hill; and every afternoon, as soon
as we had done our work, some one of us walked up to see if there were
any sail in sight, coming down before the regular trades, which blow
every afternoon.
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