SEEKING A BERTH. 275 



was iiO longer to be obtained in sufficiency to 

 make me contented, and so-, rather than wait for 

 better times, I essayed to procure myself a berth 

 in some one of the British country ships which 

 traded to the Mauritius. 



Day after day I dressed myself in my best, 

 and presented myself to some captain or mate 

 to ask for a chance. Day after day I walked 

 the mole, looking longingly at the departing ves- 

 sels, and listening with sinking heart to the cheer- 

 ful songs of those who had what I wanted 

 employment. 



To be sure, there were ships for England. But 

 thither I would not now go. The difficulties in 

 the way of remaining in the Indies only endeared 

 the prospect to me. And my determination in 

 this regard was now strengthened by that of a 

 friend whom I had found on shore ; a noble fel- 

 low, between whom and myself there shortly ex- 

 isted a bond warmer than is common even among 

 sailors. 



Poor Joe Eodgers had already several years' 

 experience of the Indies. He owned it to be a 

 dog's life. 



"Hard work, poor pay, and you have almost to 

 beg for a ship, when you once get adrift, Charley," 

 eaid he to me. "But I dare not return home as I 

 am." 



He too was an American. He too had set out to 

 sea with romantic notions of a life which he was 

 aow old enough to view in all its cheerless, hopelesf 



