imself was once
so unfortunate as to put his great toe out of joint, by kicking one of
those ill-formed youngsters with unpremeditated violence; a thing that
was very apt to happen to a man in a hurry. Luckily, No. twenty passed,
and was immediately promoted to the vacant berth. The very next day
the ship put to sea, in good condition, and with every prospect of a
fortunate voyage.

I will here state that a general election occurred the week before we
sailed; and I ran down to Householder and got myself returned, in order
to protect the interests of those who had a natural right to look up to
me for that small favor.

We discharged the pilot when we had the Scilly Islands over the
taffrail, and Mr. Poke took command of the vessel in good earnest.
Coming down channel, he had done little more than rummage about in
the cabin, examine the lockers, and make his foot acquainted with the
anatomy of poor Bob, as the cabin-boy was called; who, judging from
the amount of the captain's practice, was admirably well suited for his
station, in the great requisite of a kickee. But, the last hold of the
land loosened by the departure of the pilot, our navigator came forth in
his true colors, and showed the stuff of which he was really made. The
first thing he did was to cause a pull to be made on every halyard,
bowline, and brace in the ship; he then rattled off both mates, in
order to show them (as he afterwards told me in confidence) that he was
captain of his own vessel; gave the people to understand he did not like
to speak twice on the same subject and on the same occasion, which he
said was a privilege he very willingly left to Congressmen and women;
and then he appeared satisfied with himself and all around him.

A week after we had taken our departure, I ventured to ask Captain Poke
if it might not be well enough to take an observation, and to resort to
some means in order to know where the ship was. Noah treated this idea
with great disrespect. He could see no use in wearing out quadrants
without any necessity for it. Our course was south, we knew, for we were
bound to the south pole; all we had to do was to keep America on the
starboard, and Africa on the larboard hand. To be sure, there was
something to be said about the trades, and a little allowance to be made
for currents now and then; but he and the ship would get to be
better acquainted before a great while, and then all would go on like
clockwork. A few days after t