A Thousand-Mile Walk 
One day soon after her arrival I went over 
the key to the harbor, for I was now strong 
enough to walk. Some of her crew were ashore 
after water. I waited until their casks were 
filled, and went with them to the vessel in their 
boat. Ascertained that she was ready to sail 
with her cargo of lumber for Cuba. I engaged 
passage on her for twenty-five dollars, and 
asked her sharp-visaged captain when he would 
sail. “Just as soon,” said he, “as we get a 
north wind. We have had northers enough 
when we did not want them, and now we have 
this dying breath from the south.” 
Hurrying back to the house, I gathered my 
plants, took leave of my kind friends, and 
went aboard, and soon, as if to calm the cap- 
tain’s complaints, Boreas came foaming loud 
and strong. The little craft was quickly 
trimmed and snugged, her inviting sails spread 
open, and away she dashed to her ocean home 
like an exulting war-horse to the battle. Islet 
after islet speedily grew dim and sank beneath 
the horizon. Deeper became the blue of the 
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