t Boaz Island for the purpose of coaling,
and remained three days. We enjoyed the opportunity of visiting the
several islands and places of interest. On resuming our voyage we
arrived at Port Royal about midnight--four days later. It was a
magnificent night as we steamed in under the lofty Blue Mountains. We
anchored, and were soon visited by a lieutenant and boat's crew from
the guard ship, who reported that quiet had been restored and in all
probability our fighting services would not be required. Our men were
quite disappointed in not having an opportunity of chastising the
negroes for their insolence.

There was no barrack accommodation at Port Royal and we were
transferred to the receiving ship _Aboukir_, and awaited a transport
to take us back to Halifax. The weather was very hot, but we had
plenty of room under the great awning that covered the upper deck. We
were taken to the bathing grounds twice a week at 5 a.m. They supplied
us with coffee and light lunch. We enjoyed the gentle breeze that came
up generally in the afternoon. When the ripple on the water was
observed the men shouted, "The doctor is coming!" and the boatswain's
whistle was heard calling the hands to the capstan to swing the ship
broadside to get the zephyr as much as possible to enter the
port-holes of the monster. Commodore Smyth read the prayers on Sunday.
The services were held on the quarter-deck with good singing.

The crew of H.M.S. _Bulldog_ had been added to the already large
family of the _Aboukir_, but there was plenty of accommodation for
them.

I must inform the reader of the experience of this crew. It appears
that while a mail steamer carrying the British flag was passing a
Haytian fort she was fired upon. On arriving at Port Royal the captain
reported the circumstance to Commodore Smyth, who immediately ordered
the _Bulldog_ to go down and investigate. The captain informed the
authorities of his business, but they would not confer with him or any
of his officers, and instead fired on the ship. The _Bulldog_ at once
opened fire on the forts, but it was soon discovered that the
navigating lieutenant had run the ship on a sand bar, at once becoming
a target for the Haytians. Captain Wake took in the situation and
concluded that his charge was lost, and in order to save his crew
summoned them to the quarter-deck, where he proposed that they abandon
the ship and blow her up. This was agreed to. Boats were lowered and
supplied with