FRED. 319 



once more of the room which I had occupied pre- 

 vious to my departure in the Annie. Here I found 

 installed, on my return, a British sailor with 

 whom I had once made a voyage from Canton to 

 the Isle of France. We were very happy to meet. 

 He told me ships were exceedingly scarce. It was 

 now the hurricane season, when the harbor of 

 Port Louis is not thought safe for shipping. At 

 this time of the year therefore, business is espe- 

 cially dull. 



"What do you say to shipping for England?' 

 Baid Fred to me one day, shortly after my arrival, 



" We can never make sufficient here for a start ; 

 whereas if we go to London and thence to New 

 York, we can save as much off a couple of voyages 

 in one of your Yankee ships, as will give us a nice 

 start out here." 



This idea pleased me. We talked the matter 

 over a little more at length, and finally determined 

 to ship as soon as possible for London. 



On the morning following the final settlement 

 of our plan, we walked down upon the mole, to 

 place ourselves in the way of ship captains who 

 should come ashore in search of men. After 

 walking about awhile, enjoying the cool shade of 

 a huge banian tree which half covers the mold 

 and jetty, we proceeded up town. On the way up, 

 we were hailed by a short, stout man, who asked 

 us if we did not want a ship. 



"Where for?" inquired Fred. 



"For London." 



