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hama had dropped some distance down the
Mersey, and we joined her by tug. She had her steam up, and was ready to trip her anchor, the moment we arrived, and in a few minutes after getting on board, we were under way. The tug cheered us, as she turned to steam back to the city, and the cheer was answered lustily by our crew.
We were a week on the passage from
Liverpool to
Terceira; our old friend,
Captain Tessier, of the
Bahama, with whom I had made the passage from
Nassau to
Liverpool, rendering our time very comfortable.
On the morning of the 20th of August, we were on the lookout, at an early hour, for the land, and it was not long before we discovered the island, looking, at first, hazy and indistinct in the distance, but gradually assuming more form and consistency.
After another hour's steaming, Porto Praya, our place of rendezvous, became visible, with its white houses dotting the mountain side, and we now began to turn our glasses upon the harbor, with no little anxiety, to see if our ships— for a sailing-ship, with the
Alabama's battery and stores, had preceded her some days, and should now be with her—were all right.
We first caught sight of their spars, and pretty soon, raising their hulls sufficiently for identification, we felt much relieved.
Our secret had been well kept, and the enemy, notwithstanding his fine ‘smelling qualities,’ had not scented the prey.
In the meantime, our own approach was watched with equal anxiety from the deck of the Alabama. We might be, for aught she knew, an enemy's steamer coming in pursuit of her; and as the enemy was in the habit of kicking all the small powers, that had not the means of kicking back, a neutral port, belonging to effete old Portugal, would not afford her the least protection.
At half-past 11 A. M., we steamed into the harbor, and let go our anchor.
I had surveyed my new ship, as we approached, with no little interest, as she was to be not only my home, but my bride, as it were, for the next few years, and I was quite satisfied with her external appearance.
She was, indeed, a beautiful thing to look upon.
The store-ship was already alongside of her, and we could see that the busy work of transferring her cargo was going on. Captain Butcher, an intelligent young English seaman, who had
