THE ALBATROSS. 223 



dismantled wreck, though, thanks to the faith- 

 fulness of her builders, her stanch live-oak hull 

 was sound and tight. 



That cabin of ours was a sight to behold. It 

 was a week before we could make it a decent 

 place to live in, for everything was drenched with 

 salt water ; and the two harness-casks, containing 

 salted beef and pork and pickles, had worked out 

 of their lashings and emptied their savory con- 

 tents down the sky-light into the cabin. Mrs. 

 Robbins thought it was "much nicer to keep 

 house on land." 



But we were safe and sound, every one of us. 

 Even the " injured " second mate, who was 

 obliged to go below on account of the " terrible 

 tumble'' he had taken, had now recovered the 

 use of his spine. Furthermore, we were well 

 provisioned. We had food enough and water 

 enough to last us till we could reach some 

 civilized port and refit the Pope. It might be a 

 tedious passage, but we had nothing in particular 

 to be afraid of — considering. 



So we made the best of a bad matter. We 

 rigged up jury-masts, and in a week's time we 

 were able to set top-sails and courses, jib and 

 spanker. 



I was puzzled at first to know what port to 

 make for. If we kept on our course to the 



