Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/57

Rh contrary, we did not make five miles from the Brazos. It was gloomy all day. In the evening there were shoals of fishes swimming around our ship. I tried to catch one of the porpoises, but failed. At dusk a small schooner came alongside; or, in fact, passing our ship, when the following conversation took place: "Ship ahoy!" "Aye, aye, sir" "Where do you hail from?" "New Orleans, sir. Where are you from?" "Galveston, Texas, sir." "Where are you bound for?" "The Island of Lobos, sir." "Here, too." "What is your latitude?" "Good." "Good luck to you, sir." "Same to you, sir." This is the general conversation the sea captains have when they meet one another out at sea. The soldiers paid a close attention, and listened with their ears and eyes open while the conversation was going on, and were well pleased with the ceremony. At 10 o'clock to-night the wind changed in our favor, and we are now gliding along pretty fast, and the captain says that if it keeps on this way, and we have good luck, we will make the Island of Lobos to-morrow evening. We have nearly all got pretty well used to the sea; our men who have been sea sick have nearly all recovered, and they seemed to care little whether the ship lies still or rolls over until her keel is above the water.

Tuesday, February 2, 1847.—This morning our Commissary first discovered that another barrel of his hams was missing. He is swearing vengeance against the man or men that stole it, threatening to shoot the man or men who stole it. He will have a happy time to find out who got it. And, again, the hams are by this time nearly all eaten up. At noon orders were issued that every soldier would be put on an allowance of water, one quart to a man for a day to cook, drink, etc. This is coming to a pretty pinch. To-day is beautiful, the wind being in our favor all day, and the prospects of the end of our sea journey is near at hand. This evening the sky was darkened by the heavy clouds, and a heavy norther blew up. The poor sailors went aloft, took in their sails, and on deck lashed everything fast; lashed the spars and foretops; tightened