EPISODES 



309 



eyes were extremely small, its flesh was considered deli- 

 cate by some on board; but in my opinion, if it be good, 

 that of a large Alligator is equally so; and on neither do 

 I intend to feast for some time. The captain told me 

 that he had seen these Porpoises leap at times perpendic- 

 ularly out of the water to the height of several feet, and 

 that small boats have now and then been sunk by their 

 falling into them when engaged with their sports. 



During all this time flocks of Pigeons were crossing 

 the Gulf, between Cuba and the Floridas ; many a Rose- 

 breasted Gull played around by day; Noddies alighted 

 on the rigging by night; and now and then the Frigate 

 bird was observed ranging high over head in the azure of 

 the cloudless sky. 



The directions of the currents were tried, and our cap- 

 tain, who had an extraordinary genius for mechanics, was 

 frequently employed in turning powder-horns and other 

 articles. So calm and sultry was the weather that we 

 had a large awning spread, under which we took our 

 meals and spent the night. At length we got so wea- 

 ried of it that the very sailors, I thought, seemed disposed 

 to leap overboard and swim to land. But at length, on 

 the thirty-seventh day after our departure, a smart breeze 

 overtook us. Presently there was an extraordinary bustle 

 on board; about twelve the Tortugas light-house bore 

 north of us, and in a few hours more we gained the Atlan- 

 tic. iEolus had indeed awakened from his long sleep; 

 and on the nineteenth day after leaving the Capes of 

 Florida, I was landed at Liverpool. 



