358 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XXII.—B. P. 
there. My officers, although better young men never 
set foot on a ship’s deck, started in this spirit, firmly 
believing the reports in circulation, that both country 
and climate were execrable, and that they would be 
fortunate to escape with life, at the cost of shattered 
health. It was my business to dissipate these fears; 
and I happily succeeded in doing so, without in any 
way detracting from the discipline and efficiency of 
the ship, by quietly proving the falsehood of the re¬ 
port, in the comfort and happiness of those under my 
charge. This was done by what is technically called 
u keeping the devil out of the men’s minds,” not, as is 
only too common, by incessant exercise aloft and con¬ 
stant gun-drill, although in our case duty was never 
neglected, but by moderate leave on shore and prac¬ 
tically useful excursions,* shooting-parties, hauling 
the seine as often as possible; surveying, wooding, 
and watering, so that constant employment, both on 
and off duty, was thus afforded. When, therefore, we 
had landed the King, and bade adieu to Mosquito, it 
was with feelings of universal regret that we looked 
back upon its fading u Shore.” 
But although none of my companions have since re¬ 
visited the Mosquito coast (so far at least as I am 
aware), it has not been so with me; my destiny has 
led me again and again to that familiar locality, bent 
on filling its empty anchorages with shipping; on re¬ 
claiming its fruitful soil; on spanning the intervening 
* For the account of an interesting excursion up the river San Juan 
and across Lake Nicaragua to Managua, see ‘ Gate of the Pacific,’ pp. 
250-312. 
