There was something about him which excited my
curiosity; for I could not, for a moment, doubt that he was well born,
and, in early life, well bred. There was the latent gentleman about
him, and the sense of honor, and no little of the pride, of a young
man of good family. The situation was offered him only a few hours
before we sailed; and though he must give up returning to America, yet
I have no doubt that the change from a dog's berth to an officer's,
was too agreeable to his feelings to be declined. We pulled him on
board the Ayacucho, and when he left the boat he gave each of its crew
a piece of money, except myself, and shook hands with me, nodding
his head, as much as to say,- "We understand one another." and sprang
on board. Had I known, an hour sooner, that he was to leave us, I
would have made an effort to get from him the true history of his
early life. He knew that I had no faith in the story which he told the
crew, and perhaps, in the moment of parting from me, probably forever,
he would have given me the true account. Whether I shall ever meet him
again, or whether his manuscript narrative of his adventures in the
Pelew Islands, which would be creditable to him and interesting to the
world, will ever see the light, I cannot tell.
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