VOYAGE OF THE GERMANIA AND II ANSA. Tl 



sea. Indeed, we had already left the lighthouse and fire- 

 ship far behind us, and passed the last sea-mark, the 

 " Schliisseltonne." The tug stopped, the hawser was 

 cast off, a boat came off from the pilot-cutter close by, 

 and the pilot left us. Immediately afterwards a boat 

 came alongside, and we were obliged to take leave of our 

 friends. A hearty shake of the hand said more than 

 words could. A last nod, and they too set oflP, not to 

 reach the harbour until a late hour. By this time the 

 Hansa had reached us and dismissed her tug. At 

 first starting, she had had the misfortune to break her 

 towing cable, from which circumstance, had we been 

 superstitious, we should have drawn a bad augury. But 

 this weakness, so much indulged in by seamen of all 

 nations, was wanting in our community. 



We were now fairly left to ourselves, and with a 

 cheerful song the sailors set one sail after another ; and 

 thus, with a light south-westerly breeze, which had just 

 sprung _up, under full sail for the north we left our 

 native land, to meet an uncertain future. The prevailing 

 frame of mind was serious ; every man of us knew what 

 depended individually upon himself, and what was ex- 

 pected of us ; that the whole world of letters was watch- 

 ing the undertaking ; but still we had full confidence in 

 the cause, and were fully determined to return to our 

 native shore only with honour. 



The ships sailed pretty well together, though the light 

 breeze gave the Hansa a little advantage, the main- 

 sail of the Germania not being large enough for such 

 a wind. Under these circumstances, we had no difficulty 

 in keeping company. 



Below, there was still enough to do to get things in 



