crew. If it be true, what I've hearn 'em say in the Mersey, the man
doesn't only suffer in his feelings by some sort of confinement they
have, but the owners suffer in pocket. But it may be, Skipper, and
I'm inclined to think with you, our case is certainly deplorable
enough to command pity instead of imprisonment. The government must
be found cutting a dirty figure on the national picture, that would
ill-treat sailors who had suffered as much as our boys have. I would
hate to see Manuel shut up or ill-used. He's as brave a fellow as
ever buckled at a handspike or rode a jib-boom. Last night, while in
the worst of the gale, he volunteered to take Higgins's place, and,
mounting the jib-boom, was several times buried in the sea; yet he
held on like a bravo, and succeeded in cutting away the wreck. I
thought he was gone once or twice, and I own I never saw more peril
at sea; but if he hadn't effected it, the foot of the bowsprit would
have strained her open in the eyes, and we'd all been sharks'-bait
before this. The fellow was nearly exhausted when he came on board;
says I, its gone day with you, old fellow; but he come to in a
little while, and went cheerily to work again," continued Mr. Mate,
who though pleased with the Captain's determination to make the
nearest port, seemed to dread that all would not be right in
Charleston--that the bar was a very intricate one--water very shoal in
the ship-channel, and though marked with three distinctive buoys,
numbered according to their range, impossible to crops without a
skilful pilot. The mate plead a preference for Savannah, asserting,
according to his own knowlege, that a ship of any draft could cross
that bar at any time of tide, and that it was a better port for the
transaction of business.

The Janson was headed for Charleston, the queen city of the sunny
South, and, as may be expected from her disabled condition, made