Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/26

 to my old brig Porpoise, Captain Charles Wilkes, commander, on the coast survey. After surveying Georges Banks and Nantucket Shoals, we returned to Boston. The day after our arrival at the Navy Yard I was sent over to the city to the office of Mr. Bowditch, author  of the "American Navigator," on State Street. He said that our charts were the neatest he had ever seen. He seemed to take quite an interest in me, and gave me some good advice in a fatherly way, which came  just in time, for I had made up my mind that I would  disappoint every one, and be somebody. From here I went to the office of the navy agent, where I received  a number of letters, which I put into my hat — in  those days sailors wore tarpaulin hats. I had been told by the captain to hurry and be quick, and had  obeyed orders in good shape so far; but I could not go  by my home a second time without stopping to see my  mother. She was very glad to see me, and I shall never forget her fond embrace, and the "God bless  you, my darling boy!" when I left her. As I crossed the bridge there was a schooner going through the draw,  and while I was waiting, my hat was knocked overboard. I immediately jumped into the schooner’s boat and recovered it, but, of course, the letters were wet. I met the captain near the dry dock, explained my adventure, and told him how the letters got wet. He gave me a look as dark as a thunder-cloud, and ordered  me on board. I went straight to the landing where the boat was, and the crew told me that the captain  was as "mad as a hornet." As I passed over the gangway, Lieutenant Boyle ordered the boatswain to