the casks and rolled them down to the boats. At night we were compelled
to knock off work, so we lighted our camp-fires and made ourselves as
comfortable as circumstances would allow. Delisle, Drew, Nicholas and
some midshipmen of the other ships were seated with me on the ground, in
the neighbourhood of a fire, more that we might have its light than its
warmth, and superintend the cooking of some steaks which we had resolved
to have for supper. Tom Rockets was acting under our orders, and
boiling the kettle to brew some punch. We were a very jolly party.
Several of us had not met since we used to assemble on board my prize at
New York in the winter, and we had had a good deal of knocking about
since then. Many a tale was told, and many a jovial song and not a few
sentimental ditties were sung, echoed by the seamen who sat grouped
about. Thus hour after hour passed by, and we felt no inclination to
lie down. I dare say we looked very picturesque as the light of the
fires fell on us: the seamen scattered about in every easy attitude; the
piled arms of the marines; the men themselves so different to the
sailors; the bayonets of the sentries in the distance; the yellow
sand-hills; the sea, calm and solemn, flashing every now and then with
phosphorescent light; and then overhead the dark mysterious vault of
heaven, studded with stars innumerable, all speaking of the might, the
majesty, the power unbounded of the Creator. One by one my messmates
dropped off to sleep. I lay on my back for some time contemplating the
magnificent spectacle. I had often gazed on the stars before. I had
taken the altitudes of many; I had measured the distance of one from the
other; I had steered my course by them over the ocean; but then I had
looked on them only as useful appendages to our globe. Now, as I gazed,
they seemed to float--beauteous globes in the pure ether, altogether
independent of the puny world we call our own. How far more pure and
brilliant did they appear than in the misty clime of old England! I
began to envy the Americans the advantage they possess over us.

My meditations were rudely and suddenly interrupted by the sharp rattle
of musketry, and a quick succession of reports in return. Every man in
an instant was on his feet. All flew to their arms and hurried to the
front. The rattle of musketry increased, and the bullets came flying
about our ears, while our advanced sentries retreated rapidly in on the
m