268 



CHAGRES. 



had given up all idea of sleeping at the fort, and 

 after entering various shops where the captain 

 had acquaintances, and refusing as often to 

 accept the gin-and-bitters which it is the 

 custom here for every body to take, with the 

 view, or at least the pretence, of keeping away 

 the fever, we went off to the schooner. This 

 vessel had arrived from Jamaica, where she 

 was built, and was to sail again in a day or two 

 for Port Royal. Small and uncomfortable as 

 she was, I was at least sure of escaping in her 

 from Chagres, if other means of transport failed. 

 The next day, however, on getting up, after 

 sleeping in a mahogany berth, full of cock- 

 roaches, and as hot as an oven, I espied a 

 white foretopgallant sail, just peeping above 

 the horizon. It was some time before the 

 captain of the schooner would believe that I 

 had seen a sail with my naked eye ; for he had 

 swept the sea with his glass very attentively, 

 and could perceive nothing, but after waiting a 

 little longer, every sailor on the deck of the 

 schooner confirmed the fact of a vessel being in 

 sight, and by degrees she became so distinct as 



