154 THE CAST-AWAY. 



Then we manned the boats, lowered away, and 

 pulled to the merry lime-juicer. 



We found ourselves no unexpected guests. 

 Elaborate preparations had been made for our 

 entertainment. The "doctor" had filled his "cop- 

 pers " with the most toothsome of land fare. The 

 crew had dressed up to receive us. The ship had 

 been loaded with bright-colored bunting. The 

 decks had been cleared for dancing. There was 

 an all-round, rollicking, sailorly good time that 

 lasted till midnight. 



The poor cooper, though fully conscious of the 

 honors being paid him, was too weak and wretched 

 to join in the festivities. A doctor from on shore 

 came off to look at him, and recommended hot 

 milk as a harmless restorative. When I looked in 

 upon the cooper the poor fellow turned his head 

 mournfully on his pillow and said, " Shiver my 

 soul, but I feel like a 'ard-boiled owl ! " 



Next morning we hoisted our Blue Peter, a 

 homeward bounder. It was worth a cask of 

 sperm oil to hear our crew sing at the windlass as 

 they hove up anchor. I was an old sea-dog even 

 in those days; I didn't come through the cabin 

 windows; I was put through the mill, ground and 

 bolted ; but never in all my long and varied salt- 

 water experience had I heard a crew sing better. 



