Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XV. HOME AT LAST. AS we drew towards the Equator we again greeted the North Star, -- this time in the North Atlantic, where for j-ears I had longed to behold it, for it brought home nearer. We had also taken our leave of the Southern Cross, and those mysterious clouds, once the hope, and also the fear, of the early navigators. Before passing Bermuda, the tarring, painting, and holystoning had all been gone through with, and the ship was ready to go into port. Northerly winds prevailed after crossing the Gulf stream, and the first land made was Block Island, off which we fell in with a Vineyard pilotboat, and took on board Sylvanus Daggett, a wellknown pilot, to take the ship over the shoals and into Boston Bay. That afternoon we anchored in Holmes's Hole, to wait a fair wind. This was early in December. The next morning a shore boat, with "Daddy Linton " and his three blue painted firkins, containing mince pies, fried eels, and yarn stockings, came alongside -- a welcome visitor to those who had money, but forward of the windlass there was none of that commodity. Who ever heard of a sailor going to sea without spending all his money at the last port? He would be considered a lubber, and lose caste with his shipmates were he not to IN BOSTON BAT. 171 do so. Therefore as we had neither money nor its equivalent to offer, we were obliged to defer our mince pies until we should meet them with a "Merry Christmas" at home. The next morning we were again under-wcigh, and, with a strong westerly wind, made fine progress, passing around Cape Cod during the night; the next noon we were becalmed in the bay. Towards sunset, in the eastern horizon a dark, heavy bank was slowly rising, which we felt to be the precursor of an easterly storm; the...
