Then, Too, There Was A New Voice Giving Orders,
And A New Face On The Quarter-Deck, - A Short, Dark-Complexioned Man,
In A Green Jacket And A High Leather Cap.
These changes, of course,
set the whole beach on the qui-vive, and we were all waiting for the
boat to come ashore, that we might have things explained.
At length,
after the sails were furled and the anchor carried out, the boat
pulled ashore, and the news soon flew that the expected ship had
arrived at Santa Barbara, and that Captain T - - - had taken command
of her, and her captain, Faucon, had taken the Pilgrim, and was the
green-jacketed man on the quarter-deck. The boat put directly off
again, without giving us time to ask any more questions, and we were
obliged to wait till night, when we took a little skiff, that lay on
the beach, and paddled off. When I stepped aboard, the second mate
called me aft, and gave me a large bundle, directed to me, and marked
"Ship Alert." This was what I had longed for, yet I refrained from
opening it until I went ashore. Diving down into the forecastle,
I found the same old crew, and was really glad to see them again.
Numerous inquiries passed as to the new ship, the latest news from
Boston, etc., etc. S - - - had received letters from home, and nothing
remarkable had happened. The Alert was agreed on all hands to be a
fine ship, and a large one:
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