About ten o'clock, a sea-breeze sprang up, and the pilot gave orders
to get the ship under weigh. All hands manned the windlass, and the
long-drawn "Yo, heave, ho!" which we had last heard dying away among
the desolate hills of San Diego, soon brought the anchor to the
bows; and, with a fair wind and tide, a bright sunny morning, royals
and sky-sails set, ensign, streamer, signals, and pennant, flying, and
with our guns firing, we came swiftly and handsomely up to the city.
Off the end of the wharf, we rounded-to and let go our anchor; and
no sooner was it on the bottom, than the decks were filled with
people: custom-house officers; Toplier's agent, to inquire for news;
others, inquiring for friends on board, or left upon the coast;
dealers in grease, besieging the galley to make a bargain with the
cook for his slush; "loafers" in general; and last and chief,
boarding-house runners, to secure their men. Nothing can exceed the
obliging disposition of these runners, and the interest they take in a
sailor returned from a long voyage with a plenty of money. Two or
three of them, at different times, took me by the hand; remembered
me perfectly; were quite sure I had boarded with them before I sailed;
were delighted to see me back; gave me their cards; had a hand-cart
waiting on the wharf, on purpose to take my things up: would lend me a
hand to get my chest ashore; bring a bottle of grog on board if we did
not haul in immediately,- and the like.
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