14th. This day we got under weigh, with the agent and
several Spaniards of note, as passengers, bound up to Monterey. We
went ashore in the gig to bring them off with their baggage, and found
them waiting on the beach, and a little afraid about going off, as the
surf was running very high. This was nuts to us; for we liked to
have a Spaniard wet with salt water; and then the agent was very
much disliked by the crew, one and all; and we hoped, as there was
no officer in the boat, to have a chance to duck them; for we knew
that they were such "marines" that they would not know whether it
was our fault or not. Accordingly, we kept the boat so far from
shore as to oblige them to wet their feet in getting into her; and
then waited for a good high comber, and letting the head slue a little
round, sent the whole force of the sea into the stern-sheets,
drenching them from head to feet. The Spaniards sprang out of the
boat, swore, and shook themselves and protested against trying it
again; and it was with the greatest difficulty that the agent could
prevail upon them to make another attempt. The next time we took care,
and went off easily enough, and pulled aboard.
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