258 WHALING AND FISHING. 



and topsail-yards made ready for a speedy descent 

 Then the hands had time to greet old friends 

 who were fast crowding alongside or standing 

 upon the shore waving handkerchiefs, and hailing 

 in barbarous French. Had we now had English 

 01 American officers, but little time would have 

 been lost in such pleasures. Preparations would 

 have been instantly begun for sending our cargo 

 ashore. But here the balance of the day was 

 given for communion with friends, and to-morrow 

 was declared time enough to begin work. 



I alone had no friends to greet me, no one to 

 rejoice in my return, no heart to beat quicker at 

 sight of my bronzed face, by this time of nearly 

 as dark a hue as many of my shipmates. And as 

 joyful faces showed themselves over the gangway, 

 and supplies of fruit from the shore proved the 

 heartiness of the welcome which kind friends 

 were giving the returned voyagers, I began in the 

 selfishness of my heart mentally to find fault with 

 all about me, and more than half wished I had 

 not come to Port Louis. 



But I was not doomed to remain friendless. 

 As I sat apart, upon the topgallant forecastle, 

 feeling, and I dare say looking very dreary, a 

 brown Hebe approaching me, inquired, in bro- 

 ken English, " You got no friends, Jack ? " 



" Kot a friend," said I, in a gruff tone, as noi 

 thinking it desirable to have my loneliness com 

 menled upon by strangers. Watching rae rathf 



