tes seems still to pervade the tent
and no one is thinking of turning in.

Mr. Bailey, the foreman of the contractor's party, came into the tent
soon after we had gathered for the evening. He had in his hand a small
book and on his face a smile as he passed it around, showing each one
an open page of the book; when he reached me I saw it was a pocket
Bible opened at the fifty-first chapter of Isaiah, where Mr. B.'s
finger rested under the words, "The isles shall wait upon me and on my
arm shall they trust." He did not speak until I had read, and then
said he had opened the Bible by chance, as was his habit every
evening. Poor Bailey! We all feel very sorry for him. He is a fine
character, well advanced in years; and having by economy accumulated
considerable money, had bought himself a home, before coming out, to
which he was intending to retire when this contract was completed.

By invitation from the captain I accompanied him in walking around the
entire island, avoiding, however, the extreme point to the westward,
where albatross were nesting. He talked but little, and I saw that his
eyes often turned to the spot where the gig had disappeared from
view. As we separated in front of his little tent he said with a voice
full of pathos to me, "Good-night, Paymaster; God grant that we see
them again."

I find that I have so far omitted to give the personnel of Talbot's
crew. As stated before there were many volunteers, but the surgeon was
ordered to select from a list given him four of the most vigorous and
sturdy of the applicants and report their names to the captain. There
was considerable rivalry among them. In fact I was accidentally a
witness to a hard-fought wrestling-match between two of the crew who
sought the honor of going and risking their lives. The defeated one, I
was told, was to waive his claim in favor of the victor.

The following letter, which has gone in the boat from our captain to
the Admiral of the Pacific fleet, gives the personnel of the boat's
crew and other information.

OCEAN ISLAND, PACIFIC OCEAN,
November 16, 1870.

Rear Admiral John A. Winslow,
Commanding Pacific Fleet.

SIR:--I have the honor to recommend that the attention of the
Department be particularly called to the fine conduct of
Lieutenant J.G. Talbot. The day after the wreck of the Saginaw,
Lieutenant Talbot came to me