early next
morning. In addition to the Scotch artisans already mentioned, there
were several young gentlemen who were about to return home in the
Giraffe. These youths had been prosecuting their studies in Germany.
They were now about to return home to enter the army. Two of them,
Messrs. Price and Blair, are now Professors in Virginia Colleges, after
doing their duty as brave and faithful soldiers during the war. It is
well known that many thousands of young men, the flower of the South,
served as privates during the whole of our struggle for independence;
and it is equally well known that they never flinched from dangers or
privations.

Many years ago an expedition under the command of Lieutenant Strain, of
the United States Navy, was sent to make a reconnoissance across the
Isthmus of Darien. The party lost their way among the morasses and
almost impenetrable forests, and endured frightful hardships. But the
officers survived, while many of the men succumbed to fatigue and
famine. During our war, the youths of gentle blood and tender nurture
displayed equally wonderful endurance.

We parted from the Major on the wharf before going on board. He promised
to meet us in Richmond; preferring himself to return via. New York; and
we did not doubt his ability to keep his promise; for he seemed to
experience no difficulty in passing and repassing through the lines at
his pleasure during the war. He was in Washington, indeed, at the time
when President Lincoln was assassinated, and was arrested as an
accomplice in that great crime. His numerous friends who had so often
suffered from his practical jokes, would have been pleased no doubt, to
see how he appreciated the jest, when his head was tied up in a feather
pillow to prevent him from defrauding the law by committing suicide in
the murderer's cell. The shrill sound of a whistle was heard in the
theatre just before Booth committed the act; and when the Major was
arrested in his bed at the hotel a few hours afterwards, a whistle was
found in his pocket. It was damaging evidence, but he escaped
prosecution as an accomplice by adopting the advice once given by Mr.
Toney Weller, and proving an alibi.

CHAPTER VII.

Voyage to Madeira.--A Capital Sea-boat.--The Island Ponies.--Mr. B.
and his daughters.--Voyage to St. John's, Porto Rico.--Run across
the Bahama Banks.--Nassau during the War.--High Wages and Low
Characters.--Crew re-shipped.--Failure to