Every one was in the best of spirits; and, the
voyage being nearly at an end, the strictness of discipline was
relaxed; for it was not necessary to order in a cross tone, what every
one was ready to do with a will. The little differences and quarrels
which a long voyage breeds on board a ship, were forgotten, and every
one was friendly; and two men, who had been on the eve of a battle
half the voyage, were laying out a plan together for a cruise on
shore. When the mate came forward, he talked to the men, and said we
should be on George's Bank before to-morrow noon; and joked with the
boys, promising to go and see them, and to take them down to Marble,
head in a coach.
Saturday, 17th. The wind was light all day, which kept us back
somewhat; but a fine breeze springing up at nightfall, we were running
fast in toward the land. At six o'clock we expected to have the ship
hove-to for soundings, as a thick fog, coming up showed we were near
them; but no order was given, and we kept on our way. Eight o'clock
came, and the watch went below, and, for the whole of the first
hour, the ship was tearing on, with studding-sails out, alow and
aloft, and the night as dark as a pocket.
Pages:
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635