He Soon, However, Became Tired,
And Went Round The Island, On Different Pretences, To Look Out
For A Sail.
One day, he was out fishing in a small canoe with
another man, when he saw a large sail to the windward, about a
league and a half off, passing abreast of the island and standing
westward.
With some difficulty, he persuaded the islander to go
off with him to the ship, promising to return with a good supply
of rum and tobacco. These articles, which the islanders had got
a taste of from American traders, were too strong a temptation
for the fellow, and he consented. They paddled off in the track of
the ship, and lay-to until she came down to them. George stepped
on board the ship, nearly naked, painted from head to foot, and in
no way distinguishable from his companion until he began to speak.
Upon this, the people on board were not a little astonished; and,
having learned his story, the captain had him washed and clothed,
and sending away the poor astonished native with a knife or two
and some tobacco and calico, took George with him on the voyage.
This was the ship Cabot, of New York, Captain Low. She was bound
to Manilla, from across the Pacific, and George did seaman's duty
in her until her arrival in Manilla, when he left her, and shipped
in a brig bound to the Sandwich Islands. From Oahu, he came,
in the British brig Clementine, to Monterey, as second officer,
where, having some difficulty with the captain, he left her,
and coming down the coast, joined us at San Pedro. Nearly six
months after this, among some papers we received by an arrival
from Boston, we found a letter from Captain Low, of the Cabot,
published immediately upon his arrival at New York, and giving all
the particulars just as we had them from George. The letter was
published for the information of the friends of George, and Captain
Low added, that he left him at Manilia to go to Oahu, and he had
heard nothing of him since.
George had an interesting journal of his adventures in the Pelew
Islands, which he had written out at length, in a handsome hand,
and in correct English.
CHAPTER XXV
RUMORS OF WAR - A SPOUTER - SLIPPING FOR A SOUTH-EASTER - A GALE
Sunday, November 1st. Sailed this day, (Sunday again,) for
Santa Barbara, where we arrived on the 5th. Coming round St.
Buenaventura, and nearing the anchorage, we saw two vessels in port,
a large full-rigged, and a small hermaphrodite brig. The former,
the crew said must be the Pilgrim; but I had been too long in the
Pilgrim to be mistaken in her, and I was right in differing from
them; for, upon nearer approach, her long, low shear, sharp bows,
and raking masts, told quite another story. "Man-of-war brig,"
said some of them; "Baltimore clipper," said others; the Ayacucho,
thought I; and soon the broad folds of the beautiful banner of
St. George, - white field with blood-red border and cross, - were
displayed from her peak.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 161 of 324
Words from 83646 to 84170
of 170236
