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NARRATIVE OF A 



was in his hands for five days, and received three or four 

 visits from him daily. But I will not occupy the reader 

 with the details of my situation during this period. Suf- 

 fice it to say, it was the most melancholy and unpleasant. 

 The house I lived in, afforded none of the little comforts 

 so desirable to a sick man — not even the means of making 

 a cup of tea. I was left almost alone, and had no regular 

 attendant, and no other bed than a cot, without a mattress. 

 I felt certain that I was going to follow Mr. M., and my 

 despondence and discomfort were beyond expression. 

 Happily, on the 1st August I was declared out of danger, 

 and on the 3rd of the same month was sufficiently well 

 to embark in the Guatemala packet, that sailed on that day 

 for Havana. 



The winds were light and variable, but chiefly in a di- 

 rection contrary to the vessel's Course. Our progress was 

 like that of Penelope's web, for we lost at night what we 

 gained during the day. At length, after a tedious passage 

 of fourteen days, we anchored in the port of our des- 

 tination. 



I was standing in the vessel's poop, and gazing at the 

 shipping, and the houses, and the fortifications of Havana, 

 as we entered the harbour, when I was hailed by name 

 from a vessel that we were passing. It was the captain of 

 the brig in which I had performed the voyage to Truxillo. 

 Coming along-side the packet, he claimed me as his pas- 

 senger on my return to the United States, and notified me 

 that he would sail on the following day. To this, how- 

 ever, I demurred, for I was resolved on having one day of 

 enjoyment in Havana, and would only consent to go on 

 the day after. The captain remonstrated and entreated, 

 and laid great stress on the responsibility he incurred by 

 any unjustifiable detention of his vessel ; but he yielded at 

 last — as I knew he would — and on the 19th instant we 

 sailed together for Baltimore. 



The winds were variable, and the weather fair and plea- 



