“Land ahead!” cried the lookout, from the mast head.
“What does it look like?” asked I.
“Low hills, sir, and now I see houses on the highest peaks.”
“Hurrah, New Providence, Fort Nassau, ho!”
Soon we saw the shores of the British island, New Providence, but the wind lulled, and we were soon nearly becalmed again.
“I say, captain,” said Bangs, “we must be your guests for this night at least, and trouble you for lodgings on board your nut-shell. No hopes, as I see, of getting into port to-night, and if we did it would be too late to land.”
He was right, and we sat down to our rude and homely meal in the little broiling hot cabin. We were all in a very good humor. I flattered myself that my conduct in our late combat with the slaver, would advance me several steps up the ladder of promotion, whilst my friends were overjoyed at the thoughts of soon being on terra firma once more.
“Captain, my boy,” said Bangs, “I honor your profession; but, nevertheless, have no great desire to belong to 122 it. I am satisfied that no persuasion or bribery can ever induce me to make my home on the deep; and, indeed, viewing the thing closely–––”
“By the mark two fathoms less three quarters,” called out the leadsman.
We ran into the harbor of Nassau, where we saw the glimmering of lights, but as it was too late to land that night, we dropped anchor, and after taking a parting glass of grog, went to bed. As I was convinced of the perfect security of the harbor, I ran the schooner, as she needed repairing badly, quite near to the shore, in order to be close to the dock-yard. During the night the little vessel softly touched the bottom. The shock woke me and several of the men, for though a seaman is accustomed to the swell and motion of the heaving ocean, yet the slightest touch of any hard, opposing substance, rouses him quick as lightning. I could hear, through the thin partition, the officers in earnest conversation.