at the hands of a mongrel mob at Panama. The situation was critical, and
for a time it looked as though the United States would be obliged to
seize and hold that part of Colombian territory. But time wore on
without outbreak on the part of the fiery freemen of that so-called
republic, the continued presence of ships, both at Panama and Aspinwall,
doubtless convincing them of the folly of further attempts to molest the
hated Yankees.

Meanwhile the notorious Walker had been making a filibustering raid in
Central America, which ended in failure, and the Cyane went over to
Greytown to bring the sick and wounded of his deluded followers to
Aspinwall for passage to New York. Some hundred and twenty officers and
men found in the hands of the Costa Ricans were taken on board, most of
them in a deplorable condition. Some died before weighing anchor for
Aspinwall, and as midshipmen have no definable duties except to obey
orders, whatever they may be, Midshipman Perkins was sent in a boat one
day to take a chaplain's part in the burial of one of the victims. "When
we got out to sea," he wrote, "I read some prayers over him, and then he
was thrown over the side, the sailors saying 'God bless you!' as the
body sunk." This sad duty made him feel solemn and reflective, but more
than likely as not he was called upon immediately on arrival on board,
as "master's mate of the spirit-room," to attend the serving out of grog
to the ship's company! Extremes meet on board a man-of-war, and the
times for moralizing are short and scant.

So time sped, Midshipman Perkins performing his multifarious duties with
alacrity and approval, and having some perilous adventures by flood and
field in pursuit of wild game, until July, 1857, when the monotony of
the cruise was broken by a trip to the banks of Newfoundland for the
protection of our fishing interests, and including visits at Boston, St.