as how you'd know your ship when you sees her, sir?" asked
old Bob, with a twinkle in his one eye, for he had discovered my very
limited amount of nautical knowledge, I suspect. "It will be a tough
job to find her, you see, among so many."

Now I had been on board very often as she lay alongside the quay in the
Thames. I had seen all her cargo stowed, knew every bale and package
and case; I had attended to the fitting-up of my own cabin, and was
indeed intimately acquainted with every part of her interior. But her
outside--that was a very different matter, I began to suspect. I saw
floating on the sea, far out in the distance, the misty outlines of a
hundred or more big ships; indeed, the whole space between Portsmouth
and the little fishing village of Ryde seemed covered with shipping, and
my heart sank within me at the thought of having to pick out the
_Barbara_ among them.

The evening was drawing on, and the weather did not look pleasant; still
I must make the attempt. The convoy was expected to sail immediately,
and the interests of my employers, Garrard, Janrin and Company, would be
sacrificed should the sailing of the ship be delayed by my neglect.
These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind and made me reply boldly,
"We must go on, at all events. Time enough to find her out when we get
there."

We were at that time near the mouth of the harbour, with Haslar Hospital
seen over a low sandbank, and some odd-looking sea-marks on one side,
and Southsea beach and the fortifications of Portsmouth, with a church
tower and the houses of the town beyond. A line of redoubts and
Southsea Castle appeared, extending farther southward, while the smooth
chalk-formed heights of Portsdown rose in the distance. As a person
suddenly deprived of sight recollects with especial clearness the last
objects he has beheld, so this scene was indelibly impressed on my mind,
as it was the last near view I was destined to have of old England for
many a long day. For the same reason I took a greater interest in old
Bob and his boy Jerry than I might otherwise have done. They formed the
last human link of the chain which connected me with my native land.
Bob had agreed to take my letters back, announcing my safe arrival on
board--that is to say, should I ever get there. My firm reply, added to
the promise of another five shillings for the trouble he might have,
raised me again in his opinion, and he became very communicative.