When Captain Thorne returned on board that night the news soon spread fore and aft that orders to proceed to Singapore had been received, and that the 'Alert' would probably sail from there either to Calcutta or Hong Kong.
First thing next morning Mr. Sennit, the chief officer, came along singing out, 'All hands bend sails!' and throughout that day the work went with a swing.
As for Jack Clewlin, he had already become so accustomed to the task that both royals were secured to their yards in record time, and from them he slid down to the topgallant and lower yards, reeving bunt lines and reef-tackles, and, in short, striving to show how thankful he was for that magnificent spell ashore. After that work was completed the anchor gear, cat and fish falls were rove.
To the surprise of all hands, the lately landed Germans came off begging a passage to Singapore, since their skipper had gone home, and no employment could be obtained among the few ships in the roadstead.
Captain Thorne considered the matter, and finally granted their request, and that kindness subsequently proved of the utmost importance to everyone on board.
The boat being hoisted in and secured in its davits, all hands manned the windlass, and to the cheery chanty:
'As I went awalking one morning in May,
Ho, rio,
I met a fair maiden, and to her did say,
We are bound to the Rio Grande.
Away rio, ho, rio.
Sing fare you well,
My bonnie young girls,
We are bound to the Rio Grande.'
Up and down went the levers, and the pawls clicked cheerily till the cable was hove short. Every stitch of canvas fore and aft was sheeted home and mastheaded, and with the tripping of the anchor the 'Alert' canted her head seaward, and careening to the breeze in ballast trim speedily left Batavia far astern.
With a light five-knot wind she proceeded northward through the Java Sea, and for a few days all went well.