We Left Here The Young Englishman, George Marsh, Of Whom I Have
Before Spoken, Who Was Wrecked Upon The Pelew Islands.
He left us
to take the berth of second mate on board the Ayacucho, which was
lying in port.
He was well qualified for this, and his education
would enable him to rise to any situation on board ship. I felt
really sorry to part from him. 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.
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