I hadn't been lime-juiced by that villanous landlord that advanced
me the trifle. But I seen she was as deep as a luggerman's
sand-barge, and I popped the old cat overboard, just as we rounded
the point coming out o' Kingston harbour," said a fine,
active-looking sailor, who bore every trait of a royal tar, and
boasted of serving five years in the East-India service, to his
shipmate, while he continued to serve the stay. His words were
spoken in a whisper, and not intended for the captain's ears. The
captain overheard him, however; and, as a vessel is a world to those
on board, the general sentiment carries its weight in controlling
its affairs. Thus the strong feeling which prevailed on board could
not fail to have its effect upon the captain's mind.

"Well, we'll try her at any rate," said the captain, walking aft and
ordering the cabin-boy to bring up his glass; with which he took a
sharp look to the southward.

"I'd shape her course for a southern Yankee port. I haven't been
much in them, but I think we'll stand a better chance there than in
these ports where they make a speculation of wrecking, and would
take a fellow's pea-jacket for salvage." "We're always better under
the protection of a consul than in a British port," said the mate,
coming aft to inform the skipper that they had carried away the
chains of the bobstay, and that the bowsprit strained her in the
knight-heads.