the warehouse roof; her
wide-spreading yards, extending far over the quay, accurately squared;
her standing and running rigging as taut and straight as iron bars; her
ten long nine-pounders grinning beneath her triced-up port-lids; her
brightly-polished brass long eighteen-pounder mounted upon her
forecastle; her spacious deck scraped and scoured until it was as white
as snow; and her new copper and her black topsides gleaming and
shimmering in the gently-rippling tide. Day after day, as the work of
fitting-out progressed, the quay was crowded with people who came down
to watch our operations and admire the schooner; and so favourable was
the impression she created that, had we been in want of men, we could
have secured volunteers in plenty from among the idlers who spent day
after day alongside, watching us at work, and speculating among
themselves--with their hands in their pockets--as to the measure of
success that our bold venture was likely to meet with.

When we knocked off work at noon, to go to dinner, our work was
completed; and as Mr White had taken care to secure our letters-of-
marque in good time, it was determined that the _Dolphin_ should proceed
to sea that same evening, the crew having already signed articles, and
been warned to hold themselves in readiness for a start at a moment's
notice. As for me, my traps were already on board, and nicely arranged
in my cabin--my sister Dora having, with her usual tenderness of
affection, insisted upon attending to this matter herself--there was
therefore nothing for me to do but to go home, say good-bye, and rejoin
the ship. This ceremony I had always found to be a most painful
business; but it was especially so in the present case; for I was not
only once more about to brave the ordinary perils incidental to a
sailor's life, but was, in addition, to be exposed to the still greater
hazards involved in battle with the enemy. Poor Dora and my aunt were
but too well aware, from the experience of others in the last war, what
these hazards were; they knew how many men had gone out from their
homes, hale, strong, and full of enthusiasm, either to find death in
their first engagement, or to be brought back, sooner or later, maimed,
helpless, and physically ruined for the remainder of their lives; and,
as tender, loving women will, they anticipated one or another of these
evils for me, and were therefore distressed beyond all hope of comfort.
Nor could I shut my eyes